November 13, 2009

RedStorm knocks off Midway in Bevo

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball team moved to 3-0 on the young season after a 76-60 victory over Midway College in the first round of the Bevo Francis Tournament on Friday evening at the Newt Oliver Arena.

Rio Grande (3-0) trailed for most of the first half and by as many as seven points on two occasions at 14-7 and 21-14. Rio rallied and took a 39-33 advantage to halftime.

The RedStorm built the lead to 61-49 midway through the second half after a four-point play from junior guard Jenna Smith (Bellefontaine, OH). It looked as if Rio was going to run off and leave Midway at that point, but the RedStorm left the door open and the Eagles climbed back to within eight points at 66-58, but would get no closer than that as Rio pulled away down the stretch.

Midway College (1-4), coached by former Rio Grande standout Karley Mohler, gave Rio all it wanted before falling for the fourth consecutive time.

Junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH) led the RedStorm with 17 points (13 in the first half). Three other Rio players reached double figures with freshman guard Olivia Brown (Maple Heights, OH) scoring 11 points off the bench while junior guards Smith and Bre Davis (Marietta, OH) tossed in 10 points each.

Kendro and junior center Ashley Saunders (Amanda, OH) led the RedStorm in rebounds with seven each and Smith dished out, a game-high, seven assists. 

Kayla Shull and Jackie Hicks led Midway with 10 points each and Hicks just missed a double-double as she pulled down nine rebounds. 

Rio again had a strong second half effort on the defensive end of the floor, holding the Eagles to 27 points and 27 percent (10-of-37) shooting after halftime.

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley felt like his team was in a hard-fought battle from start to finish. "It was a battle from the beginning, I thought Coach Mohler did a tremendous job getting her team ready," he said. "The emotion of it all with Karley coming back here being a player and coming back home, I thought her kids really stepped up and played well and played hard."

"I felt we played and made some pretty good decisions it's just our timing is really not where it needs to be at this stage of the season," Smalley added. "We turned the ball over 25 times and maybe out of those 25 there may have been 8 or 10 that were really unforced on our part. They were the right decision, just the wrong approach."

Rio Grande will face Bluefield College (4-0) in the championship game at 3 p.m. on Saturday as the Rams defeated Point Park, 76-63. "They're deep, they're a little bit like Glenville State from our exhibition, they sub a lot early, they come at you, they do a little pressing and we've got to be able to withstand that flurry," Smalley said." "If we take care of the basketball and be just a little more control-oriented through the press, I think we'll be okay."

Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 2:50 p.m.

Midway will square off with Point Park in the first game on Saturday with a scheduled tip-off at 11 a.m.