Dec. 10 – MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Hiram College women's basketball team used a +16 advantage in the rebound department to earn a 67-56 victory over Allegheny College on Saturday afternoon in Meadville.
With the victory, the Terriers (8-2, 3-2 NCAC) not only pushed their North Coast Athletic Conference record over .500, but their 8-2 start is the best through the first 10 games in program history.
The teams would play to three ties in the early stages of the first quarter, including 9-9, before a 5-0 Terrier run pushed the visitors ahead by five (14-9). Mercedes Jones posted a pair of free throws, before a three-point basket from Kaylee Shockely gave the Terriers the advantage.
Allegheny would respond in the final two minutes of the frame, using a 7-0 swing to take a 16-14 lead heading into the second stanza.
In the second quarter, the Terriers would lock down defensively, holding the Gators to just six points. Hiram held a 13-6 advantage in the quarter, turning a two-point deficit, into a five-point halftime lead.
Freshman Clover Kaple opened the scoring in the second quarter, giving the Terriers the lead with a three pointer at the 8:19 mark. The lead would grow to as many as five (23-18) before a quick burst by the Gators cut the advantage back to just one point with 2:48 to play.
Back-to-back steals by the Terriers in the final stretch of the half would lead to a pair of fast-break buckets for Kaple. The freshman finished the half with nine total points and Hiram took a five-point lead into the break, 27-22.
The beginning of the season half would see the momentum continue to swing in the Terriers' favor as Hiram ran their lead out 13 points with 4:19 to play in the third quarter. Jones proved to be the catalyst in the run, knocking down a pair of three pointers and tallying eight points, overall, in the run.
Over the span of ten minutes between the second and third quarters, the Terriers outscored the Gators 20-8 to take the 13-point lead.
Allegheny would get as close as five in the third quarter before the advantage settled on seven points heading into the final quarter.
Hiram would add 20 more points in the final stanza, seeing the lead grow to as many as 17 (64-47) on a three pointer by Kaylee Shockley, before cruising home for the 11-point victory, 67-56.
The big advantage for the Terriers in the game came in the rebounding department, as Hiram held a +16 advantage, including 24 offensive rebounds which led to 17 second-chance points.
Sophomore Erica Johnson led the way in rebounding for Hiram, posting a career high in both total rebounds (14) and offensive boards (8). Five different players totaled at least two offensive boards; including Kayla Yost with four, Jones and Shockley with three, each, and Kaple, who finished with two.
Jones led the Terriers in scoring, tying a season high with 25 points, including shooting 8-of-8 from the charity stripe. Shockley finished the game with 13 points, while Kaple totaled 11 off the bench.
Hiram will be back in action on Tuesday, December 13, as they travel to Grove City, Pa. for a non-conference matchup with Grove City College. The matchup is scheduled for a 6 PM start.