RedStorm women survive slow start, bounce Bearcats

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande stumbled out of the gate, but pulled away over the middle two quarters for a 78-57 victory over Brescia University, Thursday night, in River States Conference women's basketball play at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The RedStorm, who slipped three spots to No. 17 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll released on Wednesday, pushed its record to 16-4 overall and 9-0 in league play with a fifth consecutive win.
     Brescia suffered a 10th straight loss, falling to 4-12 overall and 0-8 in the RSC.
     The Bearcats never held the lead, but trailed just 21-17 after a layup by Courtney Peyton with 6:50 remaining in the first half.
     Rio finished the half strong, though, with a 17-4 scoring spurt that produced a commanding 38-21 advantage at the intermission.
     The RedStorm continued to extend their cushion in the third period, opening up a 60-33 lead after a jumper by senior Aleea Crites (Parkersburg, WV) with 29 seconds left in the quarter.
     The 27-point edge proved to be Rio's largest lead of the night.
     Brescia got no closer than 16 points the rest of the way despite shooting 62.5 percent from the floor (10-for-16) in the final quarter.
     Crites equaled a season-high with a game-high 18 points for the RedStorm. She also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
     Junior Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) had 16 points and a pair of steals, while senior Jocelyn Abraham (Exchange, WV) had 10 points and junior Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) handed out a game-best seven assists.
     Junior Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) also had two steals for Rio Grande, which shot 42.6 percent overall (29-for-68) and 75 percent from the free throw line (18-for-24).
     Brescia shot just 36 percent overall (24-for-66) and 13 percent from three-point range (2-for-15), while also finishing with 17 turnovers.
     Lindsey Peyton led the Bearcats with 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, while Tia McGee added a career-best 10 points and Jaylee Covington was credited with three assists.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Saturday when it hosts RSC West Division leader Oakland City University for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
     The RedStorm and the Mighty Oaks are the final two unbeaten teams in conference play.