NEW CONCORD, Ohio (Nov. 8) – The Denison University women's basketball team rolled to a wire-to-wire 88-49 road victory over Muskingum University Friday evening in the season opener for both teams.
Denison put together a strong all-around effort in the season-opening win. The Big Red converted 53.6 percent of its field goal attempts, held a lopsided 47-24 rebounded advantage and put together a 34-13 advantage in bench points during the victory.
A pair of seniors led the way in the scoring column during the win. Abigail Westmeyer poured in 22 points, which matches a career high. Westmeyer put together a 7-for-10 effort on field goal attempts while going 8-of-12 from the free throw line. Bryana Woodard scored 15 points off the bench. Sophomore forward Violet Mitchell joined them in double figures with 11 points while adding six rebounds.
Denison opened with 12-straight points as they were clicking offensively and clamping down on the defensive end, as Muskingum found it difficult to get anything going from the outset.
Five quick points by sophomore Ada Taute helped Denison take an early 6-0 lead. Consecutive layups by Westmeyer helped the Big Red continue the run. After four-plus scoreless minutes, Muskingum finally got on the board with a layup at the 5:46 mark.
Denison added four-straight points including a layup by Woodard to make the score 16-2 in favor of the Big Red. Woodard continued to have the hot hand, as she converted consecutive layups from Denison's lead moved to 23-6 after the opening quarter of play.
The momentum continued to remain in the Big Red's favor during the second quarter. Senior Maddie Goodmanconverted a three-point play to push the lead to 28-9 at the 6:46 mark.
Westmeyer grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in. Junior Brooke Toigo followed with a three-point field goal on the next Denison possession to push the advantage to 35-12 midway through the second quarter. Woodard closed out the first half with back-to-back field goals as Denison took a comfortable 43-21 lead into the break.
Denison shot 58.3 percent from the field during the opening half. The Big Red were also effective in getting to the free throw, as they converted 12-of-17 attempts at the stripe during the opening 20 minutes.
Westmeyer and Woodard were both in double figures by halftime. They both led all players with 12 points, respectively, at the break. Denison held a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint.
The Big Red continued to hold a commanding lead in the third quarter. Sophomore transfer Adelyn Mooreknocked down a triple for her first Denison points, stretching the lead to 52-33 at the 4:27 mark.
A layup by Goodman coupled with free throws by Moore pushed the lead to 60-39 with 2:15 left in the third. Westmeyer recorded the final five points of the third as Denison moved its lead to 66-39 after 30 minutes.
Sophomore guard Abby Cooch accounted for five-straight points as the Denison lead grew to 75-43 early in the fourth.
Gillian Magner and Jess Zittel were able to get on the scoresheet down the stretch as Denison finished off the lopsided victory. Zittel scored eight points in eight minutes of work.
Cooch finished as the team's leading rebounder with eight and dished out five assists. Westmeyer added five rebounds and four steals.
Up Next: Denison heads to Columbus to face Capital University on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.