Late spurt lifts RedStorm past Warriors

Rio Grande Sports Information
     ROCHESTER, Mich. - The University of Rio Grande coughed up a 10-point fourth quarter lead, but roared back over the final five minutes and posted an 88-77 win over Rochester University, Tuesday night, in non-conference women's basketball action at Garth Pleasant Arena.
     The RedStorm, ranked No. 20 in the preseason NAIA coaches' Top 25, improved to 3-0 with the victory.
     The Warriors suffered their fourth loss in as many outings.
     Rio Grande outscored its host in each of the first two quarters and lead by as many as 11 points at one stage in the third quarter.
     Head coach David Smalley's squad still found itself up by 10 points, 66-56, following a layup by Azyiah Williams with 8:12 left in the game, but Rochester scored 13 of the game's next 14 points over a span of three minutes and took a 69-67 advantage following a layup by Krystal Rice.
     The lead was the first for the Warriors since a 10-8 cushion midway through the opening stanza.
     But the RedStorm mounted a rally of their own, tying the game on a pair of free throws by Williams just eight seconds later and taking a 70-69 lead with 4:44 remaining when junior Aleea Crites (Parkersburg, WV) hit one of two free throw attempts.
     The free throws kickstarted a 17-3 scoring spurt for Rio which pushed the lead to 12 points, 84-72, following an offensive rebound and stickback by sophomore Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) with 1:42 left and, essentially, settled things once and for all.
     The RedStorm's largest lead of the night - 13 points - came with nine seconds left when a pair of free throws by junior Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) made it 88-75.
     Rochester added a jumper by Celeste Mershimer just before the horn to set the final score.
     Rio Grande shot 43.9 percent from the floor overall (29-for-66) and was 28-for-35 at the foul line (80.0%). The RedStorm also finished with a 40-33 edge in rebounding.
     Williams scored a career-high 20 points to lead five Rio players in double figures. Senior Ella Skeens (Chillicothe, OH) finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Crites also netted 18 points.
     Darnell and Woods contributed 11 points and four steals each to the winning effort, while junior Lavender Ward (Charleston, WV) handed out five assists.
     Rice had 21 points and Mershimer 17 to lead the Warriors, while Imari Martin finished with 12 and ChiAnne Gloster had seven rebounds.
     Rochester hit 27 of its 67 field goals overall (40.3%) and was 17-for-21 at the free throw line (81.0%).
     Rio Grande returns to action on Friday in the opening round of the 40th Annual Bevo Francis Classic when it entertains 14th-ranked Bryan (Tenn.) College.
     Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at the Newt Oliver Arena.