LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Centre women's basketball weathered their first road test of the season Tuesday evening, defeating Spalding 45-39 in a defensive struggle at Columbia Gymnasium.
 
The Colonels start the season 3-0 and defeat their in-state foe Golden Eagles (1-2) both for the second time in as many years. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Each side struggled to score in the first 10 minutes, with Centre maintaining a small 8-6 edge after one quarter. The teams combined for 10 turnovers in the period.
- Spalding would use a 13-2 run in the second quarter to open the game's biggest lead to that point, 23-14, but Centre trimmed the deficit to 25-20 before the break.
- Kat Wilson hit a 3-pointer right out of the gate in the third quarter, and Abigail Stewart followed with a basket to bring the Colonels level.
- The rest of the period was closely contested, with two late free throws from Stewart making it 34-34 heading to the fourth.
- Wilson again set the tone with a bucket on the first possession of the period, and Centre would not relinquish its narrow lead the remainder of the game.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Wilson led all scorers with 15 points, adding five rebounds, four assists and a block.
- Stewart had nine points, four boards, and three blocks, while Madison Rice led the team with seven rebounds. 
- Ten of Centre's 12 players that saw action scored at least one point.
- Centre out-rebounded Spalding 44-37, striking a massive change from a minus-20 margin against the Golden Eagles a season ago. 
- Centre's defense held Spalding below 20 percent (5-26) from the floor across the third and fourth quarters, including an 0-for-3 effort from long range. The Golden Eagles managed only 14 points in the final 20 minutes. 
 
UP NEXT
Centre hits the road following Thanksgiving, competing in the Fred Raizk Memorial Tournament in Wilmington, Ohio.