January 24, 2010

RedStorm women fall in showdown with Campbellsville

Campbellsville, Ky. --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball team had the chance to make a statement on Saturday afternoon at NAIA No. 10 Campbellsville University. The RedStorm, who had received one vote in the most recent NAIA Top 25 rating, failed in that attempt as they lost their first Mid-South Conference game of the season by an 80-60 score at the Powell Athletic Center.

Rio Grande (12-8, 3-1 MSC) had a three-game winning streak snapped with the defeat. 

Campbellsville (19-1, 4-0 MSC) gained control of the game with an 11-0 run in the first half to push the score from 15-13 to 26-13. Rio Grande never recovered. Campbellsville led 37-22 at the half.

Junior point guard Bre Davis (Marietta, OH) was the only RedStorm player to score in double figures as she poured in 15 points. Freshman forward Olivia Brown (Maple Heights, OH) very nearly reached double figures as she added nine points off the bench. 

Rio's two leading scorers, junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH) and junior guard Jenna Smith (Bellefontaine, OH) only scored a combined 15 points. 

Despite poor shooting from the floor, the RedStorm continued their outstanding free throw shooting as they nailed 22-of-23 attempts (95.2 percent) for the game. 

Campbellsville placed four players in double figures paced by Wendi Messer's 17 points. NAIA All-American candidate Whitney Ballinger tossed in 16 points while Mackenzie Lee added 11 points and Megan Isaacs chipped in 10. 

Rebounding and turnovers were keys to the Lady Tigers victory. Campbellsville out-rebounded Rio Grande 44-33, including a 20-10 advantage on the offensive glass, which led to a 17-0 disparity in second chance points for CU. Rio committed 22 turnovers to 16 for Campbellsville, but points off turnovers was decidedly in favor of the Lady Tigers at 13-2.

Campbellsville also dominated in the lane, out-scoring Rio Grande 44-22 in points in the paint.

The two teams will re-match in Rio Grande, February 13.

Rio currently stands alone in second place in the Mid-South as Campbellsville and the University of Cumberlands are tied for the top spot at 4-0. 

Rio Grande will host Pikeville College on Thursday (January 28) at 6 p.m. at the Newt Oliver Arena. Stretch Internet will provide play-by-play coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m. 

Pikeville comes to town with a 13-7 overall record but sits two games behind the RedStorm in the MSC standings at 1-3.