December 20, 2009

RedStorm misfire at Point Park

West Mifflin, Pa. --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball team really struggled on Saturday afternoon versus Point Park as they lost 75-64 at the CCAC South Gymnasium. 

Rio Grande (7-6) started slowly falling behind 5-0 and not scoring for the first four minutes of the game. The RedStorm never led in the game and continued to misfire the entire afternoon with numerous turnovers and missed lay-ups.

Point Park (7-2) arguably picked up its best win of the season as they built a 32-9 first half lead.

Rio put together a nice run in the final minutes of the first half as they cut the Pioneer advantage to 34-18 at halftime. 

Rio would cut the lead to 39-30 in the opening moments of the second half and it looked to be that that would be as close as it would get for the rest of the game. The RedStorm kept coming and climbed to within six points at 70-64 in the final minute.

Point Park, who came into the game as a very suspect free throw shooting team, nailed some key charity tosses down the stretch to put the game away. 

Rio had three players score in double figures led by freshman forward Kati Moore (Lancaster, OH), who scored a career-best 15 points. Junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH), struggled from the floor going 4-of-14, but still managed to score 13 points. Junior point guard Bre Davis (Marietta, OH) chipped in 12 points. Junior guard Jenna Smith (Bellefontaine, OH) scored nine points (all in the second half) all at the free throw line. Smith had tough day shooting the ball as well as she was 0-for-12 from the field. Kendro led the way in rebounds with eight while sophomore center Ediesha Cole (Cleveland, OH) pulled down seven.

Point Park was led by April Austin's 18 points (13 in the first half) while Brittney Wilson added 15 off the bench and Ashley Henderson chipped in 13. Marissa Reinhard led all players with 12 rebounds. 

Point Park out-rebounded Rio Grande 57-47, including 25-18 on the offensive end and both teams were careless with the basketball as Rio Grande posted 23 turnovers to 22 for Point Park. 

Both teams struggled mightily from the field, Rio Grande connected on 20-of-68 (29.4 percent) attempts, including 6-of-25 (24 percent) from three-point land. Point Park was not much better, shooting 34.7 percent (26-of-75) from the field and only 17.4 percent (4-of-23) from beyond the three-point arc. 

Rio Grande will be off until after the Christmas holiday when they participate in the Canton Classic. Rio will face Walsh at Walsh, December 29 at 7 p.m. and Malone at Malone, December 30 at 7 p.m.