Cincinnati Christian tops (RV) Asbury in #RSCgotw Women's Basketball, 74-65
By Cincinnati Christian Sports Information
CINCINNATI – After being down by a possession at halftime, Cincinnati Christian surged through the second half and out-scored Asbury, 28-21, in the fourth quarter for a 74-65 victory in the River States Conference Women's Basketball Game of the Week on Saturday. With back-to-back league wins, CCU improves to 4-6 overall, 2-0 RSC.
Four of CCU's starting five reached double-figure scoring, lead by Aly Balser's double-double with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Baylee Wallace also had a double-double showing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brianna Ruffin and Brittany Wells chipped in 11 points and 10 points respectively.
For the visiting Asbury Eagles, leading scorer Oney Harrison registered a game-best 20 points and grabbed three steals. Kali Whiteside pulled down a phenomenal 19 rebounds while posting 10 points as well. Brittany Warren grabbed five steals and recorded 12 points.
The host Eagles won the tip, but it was Asbury that took an early 21-6 lead in the first quarter as CCU could not get the shots to fall in its favor. A quick put-back by Wallace brought the host Eagles within four (16-12) at the end of the opening 10 minutes.
The teams traded scores in the second quarter as CCU clawed back to knot the game at 27-27 with under two minutes to play in the half. With 50 seconds on the clock, a key foul by Wallace sent Asbury to the line where Warren knocked down a pair for a two-point AU advantage, and moments later, the visiting Eagles held a narrow 33-29 cushion going into the intermission.
At the half, Harrison had piled up 14 points and Whiteside pulled down 11 rebounds. Wallce led the host Eagles with seven points and nine boards. Asbury held CCU to just 32-percent from the field.
To open up the second half of play, Asbury went on a mini 5-2 run to take a 38-30 lead. The visiting Eagles held CCU nearly four minutes without a field goal before Balser chipped in a layup at the 6:14 mark (38-32). Mckenzie Tolson put CCU within a single point (38-37) as she tossed up a baseline three-pointer from the corner.
Bomar hit back-to-back shots late in the third quarter to give Cincinnati Christian its first advantage of the game to take a 46-44 lead into the final quarter.
Moments into the fourth, CCU stretched its lead to six after Wells drove down the lane and laid one up at the 7:22 mark, and Balser sunk a pair from the line (55-49). Alexandra Shealey drew an and-one before Wallace connected on a layup to give the host Eagles' their largest advantage of the contest (63-54) with under three minutes to play.
As the clock ticked down to under a minute, Asbury sent CCU to the foul line three consecutive times as the host Eagles were able to then secure their second straight conference win.
Overall, the host Eagles shot 40-percent from the field, but held Asbury to just 15-percent from three-point range, including 1-for-14 in the second half.
Women's basketball continues its five game home tilt on Tuesday (Dec. 6) as it tips off against IU-Kokomo at 5:30. The men's team faces off with IUK following the women's matchup at 7:30.