January 14, 2010

RedStorm women start MSC play with win

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball team was able to get off on the right foot in the Mid-South Conference as they defeated NAIA No. 25 Lindsey Wilson in the Mid-South Conference opener for both teams.

It was a history making night at the Newt Oliver Arena as it was the first ever MSC game for Rio Grande. But it was history making in that no women's team at Rio Grande had ever made more three's in one game. The RedStorm hit 15-of-25 (60 percent) from beyond the arc for the game. Also, junior point guard Bre Davis (Marietta, OH) put her name in the record books by dishing out 10 assists. 

The night didn't start all that well for Rio Grande (10-7, 1-0 MSC) as Lindsey Wilson (10-5, 0-1 MSC) scored the first six points of the game. Rio battled back to tie the game on a pair of three's and a back-and-forth game was on.

The score was tied four times in the first half and neither team enjoyed a lead of more than six points. Rio held a 38-35 at halftime as freshman Kati Moore (Lancaster, OH) drained a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The second half was more of the same as both teams shared the lead. Rio pushed the advantage to 43-35 early in the second period only to see the Blue Raiders surge back in front 60-55. The RedStorm at that point began to take control of the game as they went on an 18-5 run to swell the lead to 73-65. 

Rio placed three players in double figures led by junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH) with 23 points. She made five of the 15 treys on the night for Rio Grande. Kendro also pulled down six rebounds and handed out five assists. Junior guard Jenna Smith (Bellefontaine, OH) was on her game as well as she poured in 20 points, collected five boards and tallied four assists. Davis scored 15 points, including three crucial three's late in the game, to go along with her 10 assists.

Sierra Rambert topped the scoring chart for Lindsey Wilson with 23 points. Viktoria Krell was difficult to handle inside as she produced a double-double of 16 points and 15 rebounds. 

Rio Grande out-scored LWC 45-21 from beyond the arc. 

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley was pleased to get a huge win to start off conference play. "This conference is unbelievable on the women's side," he said. "There were five nationally ranked teams going into tonight, three of them in the top 25, including the one we just beat tonight."

"We're kind of treated like the bottom feeders and we used that as a motivation," Smalley added. "I feel like our program is good enough to be recognized in the top 25, but we've got to go out and prove and tonight we took a big step. I'm extremely pleased with the way these young ladies played and this was a big W."

"We shot the ball extremely well and Bre Davis did what a point guard is supposed to do."

Rio Grande will look to go 2-0 in league play as it travels to WVU Tech on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Stretch Internet will have play-by-play coverage beginning at 1:50 p.m. from the Baisi Center in Montgomery, WV.