RedStorm cruises past Koalas in opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     COLUMBIA, S.C. - The University of Rio Grande never trailed, jumping to an 8-0 lead out of the gate and rolling to a 94-70 win over host Columbia College, Thursday night, in non-conference women's basketball action at the Godbold Center.
     The RedStorm were playing in their season opener.
     Columbia dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
     Rio Grande's game-opening spurt eventually helped spawn a 12-2 advantage, which the Koalas sliced to 12-10 after a layup by Anaya Muhammad with 4:39 left in the period culminated an 8-0 run by the home team.
     But that's as close as Columbia would get from that point on.
     The RedStorm pushed the lead back to nine points at the close of the opening stanza and enjoyed an 11-point edge, 43-32, by the intermission.
     The Rio cushion grew to as many as 20 points late in the third quarter and reached its apex at 28 points, 89-61, following a pair of free throws by junior Sophia Kline (Sugar grove, OH) with 2:36 remaining in the contest.
     Senior Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) led a quartet of double-digit scorers for Rio Grande, finishing with a career-high 21 points, while Kline finished with 16 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in her debut with the RedStorm. Both players also had three steals and a blocked shot in the winning effort.
     Sophomore Josie Graves (Barboursville, WV) had a career-high of her own by netting 14 points and freshman Allie Ellyson (Glenville, WV)finished with 12 points and five assists in her collegiate debut.
     Senior Marina Garcia Perez (Leon, Spain) had a solid all-around game in the victory with eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.
     Rio Grande shot just over 47 percent overall (36-for-76), but was only 15-for-23 at the free throw line (65.2%).
     Columbia shot just 36 percent overall (26-for-72) and was 3-for-19 from three-point range (15.8%).
     The Koalas outrebounded the RedStorm, 48-44, but committed 27 turnovers which led directly to 33 Rio points.
     Tysonia Lowe led the hosts with 12 points, five assists and three steals, while De'Asia Feaster had 11 points and nine rebounds and Muhammad netted 10 points.
     Rio Grande continues its season-opening southern road swing on Saturday afternoon at the College of Coastal Georgia.
     Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
     CCG is coached by former Rio men's basketball assistant coach Corey Harris.