[Women's Basketball] #9 Saint Francis Jumps Out Early, Downs WBB
Doane Women's Basketball competed in Seward, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon against NAIA No. 9 Saint Francis (Ill.) to open play in the Cattle Classic. The Saints jumped out early and posted an 80-42 win over the Tigers. Doane dropped to 0-2 on the year with USF moving to 1-0.
Saint Francis took advantage of seven Doane turnovers in the 1st quarter as they jumped out to a 22-6 lead. The Saints out-scored the Tigers, 12-1, on points off of turnovers. USF shot 57-percent in the 2nd quarter and out-scored Doane, 29-10, to take a 51-16 lead at the break. The Tigers shot 17-percent in the quarter, missing on eight 3-point attempts. Doane was 6-of-6 at the free throw line in the quarter.
Doane improved on some of the mistakes that plagued them in the first half in the final 20 minutes. The difference resulted in the Saints out-scoring the Tigers, 29-26, in the second half. The Tigers shot 40-percent in the second half after converting on 18-percent of their attempts in the opening half.
For the game, USF out-rebounded the Tigers 50-22. The Saints pulled in 21 offensive rebounds on 37 missed shots which gave them a 17-1 second-chance points advantage. Saint Francis shot 46-percent for the game, hitting 9-of-33 3-point attempts.
Doane was led by Haylee Heits (JR/Rulo, Neb.) with 11 points, going 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Halle Konz (FR/Genoa, Neb.) recorded a team-high six rebounds to go with eight points. Bailey Zarybnicky (SR/Beatrice, Neb.) led the Tigers with four assists. Tayla Nulty (JR/Ballarat, Australia) and Taylor Perry (JR/Gretna, Neb.) posted three steals apiece as Doane picked up 12 in the game.
Saint Francis was led by Kaitlin Aylward with 13 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Aylward led the team in each category except steals where Kalyn Sias-Chaney picked up five as the Saints finished with 18 in the game.
The Tigers return to the court in Seward on Saturday morning at 10 AM when they take on Simpson (Calif.).