Nov. 8, 2008

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. - (Saturday, November 8, 2008) - A competitive first half gave away to a blowout win for the Redhawks women's basketball in the second half as they coasted to a 84-65 exhibition victory over Maryville University on Saturday evening. In their only exhibition game of the season the Redhawks used a 20-5 run to start the second half to distance themselves from the spirited Saints.

The Redhawks held just a six-point lead, 45-39 heading into the locker rooms at the half. Freshman point guard Bianca Beck, starting in place for an injured Tarina Nixon got the Redhawks going as she drained a three-pointer less than ten seconds into the second half. She would account for eight of the Redhawks 20 points during their seven-minute run.

The Redhawks would push that lead to 23 points, 73-50 on a Trevonna Cannon lay-up. That 23-point margin was the largest lead by the Redhawks in the game, a mark they would match two more time in the game.

The game started in the Redhawks favor. After the Saints tied the game at six apiece, the Redhawks responded with their first major run of the game. A 20-5 run capped by a Crysta Glenn's two free throws gave them their largest first half lead, 26-11. The Saints, one of the top teams in Division III, however stayed patient and chipped away at the Redhawks lead. A Courtney Pederson three-pointer tied the game at 29-29 at the 6:20 mark and a Kim Douglas three-pointer soon afterwards gave them their first lead of the game 32-29.

Senior Sonya Daugherty led the Redhawks back as she scored seven points in less than a minute to give the Redhawks the lead 39-35. That lead would balloon to eight points, 45-37 on an Amber Holmes lay-up with 1:11 left in the opening half. Rachel Viehmann sank two free throws for the Saints with less than a minute left for a 45-39 halftime score.

The Redhawks made up for a poor first half shooting performance as they made 44-percent of their shots in the second half and held the Saints to 37-percent from the floor. The telling stat was the Redhawks ability to reach the charity stripe and make the freebies. They finished 28-35 (80-percent) from the free throw line while only 12 of the Saints points came from stripe.

The Redhawks won the battle of the boards (47-37) including 19 offensive rebounds and forced 22 turnovers of which 15 were steals.

The Redhawks were led by Glenn and Daugherty who each chipped in 16 points apiece for game-high honors. Daugherty's points all came in the first half with 11of those points come from the charity stripe. Glenn went a perfect 8-8 from the line and finished with a game-high seven rebounds and four assists from her post position.

Beck finished with 12 points on 3-6 shooting (2-3 from three-point range) and added four steals. Senior Rachel Blunt also finished with 12 points as she went 6-12 from the field and grabbed six rebounds.

Sophomore Lauren Sharpe came off the bench to score 10 points, going 3-5 from the floor.

The Saints were led by Sara Wemlinger who finished with 12 points. Former Redhawks women's basketball player Mikal Bencomo added nine points in her return to the Show Me Center.

The Redhawks will play their first official game of the season on Friday, November 14 as they host to in-state rival Missouri State at the Show Me Center at 7:00 p.m.