WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

In their return to action after a two-week hiatus, the HU women’s basketball team got off to a great start before dropping a 79-52 decision to Mount Vernon (13-10, 7-4) Saturday afternoon at Ariel Arena.

The Foresters never trailed in the opening ten minutes compliments of Dazia Drake and Konnor Gambrell who combined to score all but four of their team’s first quarter points for a 17-13 HU lead. The Cougars were quick to claim a lead within the opening 30 seconds of the second quarter.

MVNU would go on to grow their advantage to as many as eight, 32-24, with less than a minute left in the half but Huntington responded with five quick points on an Annie Seboe three and Drake reverse layup to make it a 32-29 difference by intermission.

Unfortunately, the final twenty minutes told a different story. The Cougars, currently sitting third in the league standings, picked apart their guests’ defense in the first five minutes of the third quarter to swell the lead to 49-36. It set the tone for the rest of the contest as they piled up 47 second half points which included draining six threes. When they weren’t launching from deep, they were sneaking into the lane to the tune of 18 points.

Gambrell, in her first collegiate start, finished with a career- and team-best 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Drake also had a productive game by pouring in 15 points and snagging six boards. Erica Zook tracked down seven boards to match Gambrell for team-high rebounding honors.

Maggie Coe paced Mount Vernon with 18 points with all but three coming in the first half. Rylee Pireu carded 14 points; Emily Walker pitched in 13 while Katie Sprang came off the bench to add ten. Lily Krieger dominated the glass with 11 rebounds.

The Foresters (2-18, 0-9) return to Platt Arena to host Spring Arbor and Saint Francis this coming week.