Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - If Saturday's season opener proved anything, it proved the Edgewood College women's basketball team will not give in easily and Rachel Pope is turning into quite the offensive weapon. Pope made a school record seven three-point baskets, but the Eagles couldn't stay with Loras College down the stretch in an 80-67 loss at the Edgedome.
Edgewood College (0-1) showed their explosive potential in spurts throughout the game. After suffering through a six-minute drought, the Eagles rallied back from a 20-14 deficit. Six free throws got the Eagles back in the scoring column and Pope's third three-pointer of the half, gave Edgewood College a 25-23 lead. The Eagles would hold that lead and extend it to 36-33 on a running jumper at the halftime buzzer by Pope, which gave her 16 points for the first half, already breaking her career high point total.
The ominous cloud for the Eagles was their foul trouble as all five starters had at least two fouls coming out of the locker room to start the second half. Still the Eagles didn't relinquish the lead until a key 10-0 run by Loras College (1-0) near the 10-minute mark. Tied 44-44, Katie Langmeier got her own rebound and converted a three-point play. On the next possession, Kathleen Cabrera banked home a three-pointer from the left wing. After another Langmeier hoop, Loras led 52-44 with a little more than nine minutes to play.
Again, however, it was Pope who sparked the Eagles with a three-point shot off a reversal pass from Brooke McBain. Edgewood College's Courtney Spangler, Chelsey Watkinsand Dareon Henderson would combine to make five of six free throws to pull the Eagles within two at 60-58 with five minutes remaining. After another three from Pope, the Duhawks went out on a 9-0 run to put the game out of reach with a minute to go.
Both teams found the increased emphasis on contact challenging, as they combined for 60 fouls and 71 free throw attempts. The Eagles did well at the line, shooting 75.9 percent (22-for-29), but Loras College gained a huge advantage on the glass pulling down 53 rebounds, including 26 offensive, to the Eagles 29 total.
Pope's finished with 29 points, more than doubling her previous career-high. Her seven three-pointers broke the school record held by jointly by five different Eagles, most recently by Shae Beckwith who made six three-pointers against Dominican University on January 23, 2010.
After Pope, Mariah Hill scored 13 points and a team-high five assists. Watkins chipped in nine points, while McBain and Spangler shared team-high rebound honors with six boards each. Lauren Byrne led three Duhawks in double figures with 17 points, while Langmeier finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Edgewood College will be back on their home floor tomorrow afternoon for their second game in the Edgewood College Tipoff Classic. The Eagles will face the University of Dubuque, who lost the evening's first game to UW-Platteville 81-78. Both of Sunday's games can be seen live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.