RedStorm sputters at start, falls to Lions

Rio Grande Sports Information
     UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ill. - The University of Rio Grande's first post-Christmas outing was thwarted by a disastrous first half showing that the RedStorm failed to overcome.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University scored the game's first 14 points and never looked back, cruising to a 76-53 win over head coach David Smalley's squad, Saturday afternoon, in the opening round of the GSU Winter Classic at Governors State University's Athletic and Recreation Center.
     The Lions, who were the equivalent of 27th in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll, ran their record to 14-0 with the victory.
     Rio Grande, which was ranked No. 8 in the same poll, dropped to 10-2 with the loss.
     The RedStorm's 53 points scored represented their lowest point total since a 66-50 loss to Indiana Tech in the opening round of the NAIA National Championship on March 12, 2021.
     Rio hit just three of its 15 first quarter field goal attempts, but still managed to slice the deficit to eight, 21-13, following a jumper by senior Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) with 9:37 remaining in the first half.
     The Lions responded with a 20-6 run over next seven minutes, opening up 22-point advantage, 41-19, following a three-pointer by Carissa Curtis with 2:43 left before intermission.
     Freed-Hardeman finished with a 16-point halftime cushion, 43-27, going 16-for-29 from the floor overall (55.2%) in first half, including a 7-for-13 showing from distance (53.8%).
     Rio Grande cut the Lions' lead to 11 points on three separate occasions in the third quarter, but failed to cash in on multiple opportunities to shave the deficit down to single digits and still found itself staring at a 16-point shortfall, 61-45, entering the final stanza.
     Freed-Hardeman put the game away by opening the final stanza on 15-4 run to open up their largest lead of the day, 76-49, with just over three minutes left to play.
     Kaylee Odom led FHU with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Curtis tossed in 17 points and Rachel Satterly finished with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
     Brooklyn Crouch also had four assists for the Lions, who finished at an even 50 percent overall (28-for-56) and just under 48 percent from three-point range (10-for-21).
     FHU also had a 35-33 rebounding advantage.
     Darnell was Rio Grande's only double-digit scorer, finishing with 19. She also had three assists.
     Freshman Jasmine Jordan (Ashland, KY), who entered the contest averaging 15.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, yanked down a game-high 13 rebounds, but failed to score for the first time in her collegiate career.
     Senior Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) also handed out three assists and junior Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) had three steals.
     Rio Grande shot just 38.5 percent overall (20-for-52), 14.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc (2-for-14) and only 64.7 percent at the foul line (11-for-17).
     The RedStorm will close out play in the two-day event on Sunday when it faces Cornerstone (Mich.) University in a 3 p.m. EST tipoff.