Point Park wins at Rio Grande in KIAC WBB Game of the Week
Point Park wins at Rio Grande in KIAC WBB Game of the Week
STATS
(By Point Park Sports Information)
RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- Point Park University put together a great fourth quarter to win at the University of Rio Grande, 74-65, on Saturday in the KIAC Women's Basketball Game of the Week.
Point Park (10-5, 4-1 KIAC) outscored Rio Grande (8-5, 1-1 KIAC), 28-16, in the fourth quarter to turn a three-point deficit into a nine-point win. It was a matchup of the two preseason favorites in the KIAC Colonial Division, and it was tabbed the highlight game in the conference this week.
Senior guard Alexa Xenakis drained four 3-pointers to pace Point Park with a season-high 18 points. Freshman guard Kaitlyn Smith put up 15 points, and fellow reserve Leah Hurst chipped in 11 points and three 3-pointers to give production off the bench.
Carly Forse added 12 points and 10 rebounds. She had 10 points the second half and eight of those in the fourth quarter. Forse scored three straight buckets at the start of the fourth period to send Point Park on its big surge.
Xenakis followed later with a big 3-pointer for a 57-55 lead at the 5:54 mark. A couple of big jumpers by Smith and a key basket by Baylee Buleca kept Point Park in control at 65-60 with 1:46 to play.
Point Park was 14 of 17 from the foul line (83 percent) for the game. After Buleca's jumper, Point Park's final nine points came at the foul line, where they were 9 for 10 the final two minutes.
Point Park had a lead of 31-27 at the half, but Rio Grande made a move in the third quarter to outscore the Pioneers, 22-15, in the period.
Rio Grande was hurt by 26 turnovers, and Point Park turned that into a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The RedStorm held a commanding lead in rebounding, 54-31, including 24 offensive rebounds, but the turnovers cancelled that out.
Sarah Bonar scored 14 points for Rio Grande, and 12 of those came the second half. The RedStorm also got 11 points apiece from Sharday Baines, Jaida Carter and Brooke Marcum.
Point Park shot 40 percent from the field, which got a boost from 5 for 12 from beyond the arc in the second half. Rio Grande made just 2 of 14 from long range. The RedStorm shot just 9 for 19 from the foul line.
Point Park returns to action Jan. 7 at PSU-Fayette. Rio Grande's next game is Jan. 5 at home versus IU Kokomo. IU East continues to lead the KIAC Colonial Division at 3-0 KIAC followed by Point Park (4-1 KIAC) and Rio Grande and Ohio Christian both at 1-1 KIAC.