SEWANEE, Tenn.- Centre women's basketball traveled to Tennessee for their Southern Athletic Association (SAA) Conference opener on Saturday. Taking an early, double-digit lead, the Colonels downed Sewanee by a score of 71-45, improving to a 7-0 overall record, and 1-0 in the league.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
-The Colonels started the game with a strong offensive showing, shooting 73 percent from the floor in the opening quarter. Emma Rose Vincent initiated the scoring, followed by unbroken baskets from Bailey Rucker, Makya Grinter, and a three from Anna Thomas. Trailing 11-0 early, Sewanee began to crawl back with a 6-2 run. Just after, Centre netted nine consecutive points before the Tigers closed the period with a late basket.
-The Colonels carried their momentum into the second quarter, opening with a scoring streak to stretch their hold to 24. In the final few possessions, Sewanee began to gain traction, cutting Centre's lead to 16 and freezing the first-half score at 42-26, Centre favoring.
-The Tigers continued to chip away at Centre's lead, cutting the score deficit to 12 in the opening minutes of the second half. Lilly Reid put the Colonels on the board, but Sewanee answered with five uninterrupted points just after. Mid-way through the period, the Tigers had cut Centre's lead to 13 but by the start of the fourth, the Colonels returned their hold to 21 points.
-Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the final quarter. The pattern would eventually break with Centre's Lindsay Jessie & Arin Nipp. The two rookies closed the game with a late run that would move the final to Centre 71, Sewanee 45.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Thomas led the Colonels, and tied for the game's lead in points with 12. The junior added three steals, two rebounds, and an assist. Centre also got 10 points from both Rucker and Vincent.
- Centre out-rebounded the Tigers 39-34. Katelyn Stiltner, Natalie Duggins, and Vincent shared a three-way tie for most rebounds. They had six each.
- The Gold & White shot 69 percent from the charity line after going 11-16. The Tigers shot 58 percent (14-24).
UP NEXT
Centre women's basketball will take a two-week break before returning to action. They'll travel to Atlanta next, taking on Washington & Lee in the Oglethorpe Classic on Dec. 16th, at 4 p.m. ET.
