WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington women’s basketball team never trailed after taking a lead 90 seconds in on the way to picking off #7 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.), 90-84, Friday night in the opening game of the Forester Classic. The win is Coach Darby Maggard’s biggest of her three-year career at the helm of the HU program.

With this statement win, the Foresters not only improve to 3-1 but made it clear they can play with the best of the best. It was the first loss of the season for a Patriot squad that made a Fab Four appearance at last year’s NAIA National Tournament.

Huntington got off to a hot start thanks to Annaka Nelson. The 6-0 sophomore dropped ten of her 17 points in the first quarter to spearhead HU’s 24-12 advantage after the first ten minutes. Her scoring rampage included a pair of treys and her team’s final two buckets of the quarter.

It was Bailey Kelham’s turn in the second quarter. The sophomore sharpshooter got things started by nailing a three to extend HU’s lead to 15. Over the next six minutes, the Patriots fought back to within seven at 38-31 before Kelham was back at it. The last three minutes saw her score seven of HU’s final eight points which included draining another three to send her team into intermission up by nine at 46-35.

The third quarter was a rollercoaster of emotion for both teams. The Patriots came out of the half with every intention to will their way back into the game and while it looked like they were on track to do so, the Foresters pumped the brakes on CU’s comeback. With just four points separating the two squads halfway through the quarter at 51-47, HU had had enough.

Huntington scored in transition on three straight possessions which included Kelham’s traditional three-point play and three-pointer on either side of Kyndell Jochim’s fast break layup. It was the start of an 18-5 run that gave the hosts their largest lead of the night at 69-52 with 53 seconds remaining in the third.

To no one’s surprise in Platt Arena, the Patriots made one final push in the fourth. Once again, they were able to fight to within four at 78-74 with 2:46 remaining after drilling their fourth long ball of the quarter. It was Kelham to the rescue 30 seconds later with arguably the biggest triple of the evening. It was her fifth of the contest, upped the lead to seven and most importantly, proved the final dagger.

After that, HU went 7-for-8 from the line to keep their visitors at arm’s length. Kelham’s three was one of only two Huntington field goals in the fourth as they made their living from the charity stripe where they went 16-for-20 in the final stanza.

Kelham topped all scorers with 25 points to go along with seven rebounds. Gabi Melby just missed out on a triple double, stuffing the stat sheet for HU by posting 21 points, nine boards and eight assists. In addition to Nelson’s 17 points, Liv Raby also finished in double figures with 13. She also handed out three assists and swatted three shots.

Ruby Bolon offered valuable minutes off the bench, scoring down low with 1:34 to go to account for Huntington’s only other field goal in the fourth. She also ripped down two rebounds and had a block in her eight minutes of play.

The Patriots were led by Joy Kendrick’s career-high 23 points. Kaylie Monday added 17 while twin sister Kassie and Jaiden Cox chipped in 14 points each.

The Foresters are back in action tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. to take on Cumberland University (Tenn.).