Rio women trample Trojans

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande connected on a dozen three-point goals and parlayed a handful of Taylor University turnovers into even more points en route to a 93-70 victory over the Trojans, Friday night, in the opening round of the 41st Annual Bevo Francis Invitational at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The RedStorm, ranked No. 7 in the most recent NAIA coaches' Top 25 poll, improved to 3-0 with the victory.
Taylor dropped to 3-3 with a third straight loss.
     Rio Grande, known for transition-style offense, established a new season-high for three-pointers in a game for the third straight outing and connected on their most trifectas in a game since hitting 15 in a 90-89 win over Asbury University in the quarterfinal round of the River States Conference Tournament on Feb. 26, 2020.
     And wehen the RedStorm wasn't busy bombing away from the outside, they made it a point to take advantage of every Taylor miscue.
     The Trojans committed 17 turnovers in the contest - against just six by Rio - which led to a 22-9 edge in points off of turnovers for the RedStorm.
     Rio Grande led just 21-19 after the opening quarter, but settled the issue by outscoring its guests, 57-34, over the middle two periods.
     Four players finished in double figures for the RedStorm, with junior Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) and senior Reagan Willingham (Ashville, OH) leading the way with 17 points each. Darnell also handed out a game-high seven assists, while Willingham connected on five of the team's 12 three-pointers.
     Junior Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) had 12 points and a team-best eight rebounds, while sophomore Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) added 12 points of her own.
     Rio Grande shot 50.7 percent overall (37-for-73) and was 12-for-24 from distance (50.0%).
     Taylor finished 28-for-59 from the field overall and 6-for-21 (28.6%) at the free throw line.
     Ava Henson led the Trojans with a game-high 20 points, while Taylor Westgate had 13 points and a game-best 12 rebounds and Jillian Osswald added 11 points and five assists.
     Rio Grande will close out the two-day Invitational by hosting Webber International (Fla.) on Saturday at 3 p.m.