YORK, PA – The York College women's basketball team ran their win streak to six with a 88-39 rout of Hood College in Capital Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon in York. The Spartans improve to 16-3 overall and 10-1 in the CAC, keeping pace with first-place Mary Washington as the Eagles also won on Saturday. The Blazers fall to 5-14 overall and 1-10 in the league in their final CAC season.
The Spartans got off to a quick start, scoring the first 10 points of the game. The Blazers were scoreless until Dyanna Prater hit one of two free throws at the 16:13 mark. The Spartans lead grew to as many as 12 before the Blazers cut their deficit to eight five different times before the Spartans scored 13 of the final 15 points of the half to roll to the 38-19 halftime lead.
The Green and White didn't let up coming out of the break as they scored the first 17 points of the half, removing any doubt about the final outcome. The Spartan lead would not fall below 33 the remainder of the contest as York put together one of their most dominating performances of the season. The 49 point margin of victory is their largest of the year, besting the 45-point win at Wesley on December 1.
Senior April Sparkman paced the Spartans as she poured in a game-high 24 points as the guard also pulled in 10 rebounds her for her seventh double-double of the year. It was her first double-double since the December 30 loss to nationally ranked William Paterson. Sparkman finished 10-for-20 from the floor including 1-for-4 from three and 3-for-6 from the line. Sophomore Kristen Haley continued her strong play as she notched her ninth double-double of the year with 22 points and 10 boards. Haley, who's double-double was her third straight, was a blistering 8-for-10 from the floor, 2-for-3 from three and 4-for-8 from the stripe. She also had two blocked shots, two assists, and one steal.
Sophomore forward Brittany Hicks was the third Spartan in double figures as she was nearly flawless on the night. Hicks tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, a season-high tying four rebounds, four steals, and one blocked shot. Hicks was 7-for-11 from the floor but did not make a trip to the free throw line for just the second time in a game this year. Her previous free throw-less game came in the 44-point dismantling of Goucher on November 22. Sophomore point guard Aja Wallpher was again dynamic for the Spartans as she handed out a game-high nine assists with no turnovers in her 30 minutes of action. Wallpher also had four points, five rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals.
The Spartans placed 12 players in the scoring column for the game as the 88 points is the second-highest scoring output for the Green and White this year.
Hood was led by Prater as the guard was the only Blazer to reach double figures with 14 points. Prater was just 5-for-20 from the floor including 0-for-3 from downtown as the Spartans' guards harassed her into a very tough shooting night. Prater also had four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Emily Maerz led the Blazers on the boards with eight caroms while she also had five points and two blocked shots.
The Spartans finished the game shooting 52.9% from the floor including a sizzling 63.6% in the second half. York's shooting percentage was a season-best, just edging the Spartans' 52.3% accuracy mark in their win over Salisbury on January 14. The Green and White went 5-for-19 (26.3%) from three while they shot a season-worst 52.9% (9-for-17) from the free throw line. The performance is the first time all year that York had not made at least 62% of their chances from the stripe. York scored 50 points in the second half, their best second-half scoring effort of the season.
The Blazers finished the game shooting just 22.4% from the floor while they also went just 1-for-10 from three. Hood's shooting percentage was identical to Frostburg's mark in the big Wednesday night win for the Spartans. The Spartans have now held eight opponents to sub-30% shooting in a game. York has also held their last five opponents to a combined 5-for-34 (14.7%) mark from beyond the arc.
Hood did convert 12-of-18 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
The Spartans handed out a season-high 27 assists on a season-high 37 made field goals. The Green and White were also fantastic in taking care of the ball, committing just seven turnovers in the game. The Spartans, who are seventh in the nation in team blocked shots, swatted away another 10 shots while they also recorded 11 steals. The 10 blocks marks the third time this year they have reached double figures in rejections.
The Spartans return to action on Wednesday night when they travel to St. Mary's College in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. Game time in St. Mary's City, MD is set for 6:00 pm.