MADISON, Wis. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team got off to a strong start in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play in its home opener Thursday night against Alverno, as three Eagles scored in double figures and never trailed after going up 4-3 with 16:35 left in the first half. The Eagles would march to an easy victory for the first win of the season and came out on top 59-44.
Alverno's Julie Gallegos lit up the scoreboard first in the game with a deep ball but baskets by Courtney Spangler and Mariah Hill over Edgewood College's next three possessions gave the Eagles a lead they would never surrender. The score was 18-16 in Edgewood College's favor at the 10:30 mark in the first half but the Eagles would go on a 13-0 run to eliminate any doubt of a loss in the conference opener.
Five different Eagles scored in the 13-0 run that gave the Eagles the early advantage. The Inferno would score the final four points of the half but the Eagles still led by 11 going into the break. The Eagles held a slight advantage in shooting at the half as they shot 13-of-37 (35.1 percent) compared to a 32.0 percent mark from the Inferno.
The Inferno were coming off of a game in which they scored 46 points in the paint against Mount Mary last weekend but were held to just 10 in tonight's game thanks to the physical play of Edgewood College's post players. The Eagles did have trouble stopping Mollie Mikyska but contained the Inferno's offensive attack otherwise. Mikyska recorded her second double-double of the season and had 21 points while snagging 17 of the Inferno's 38 rebounds. Tessa Mersberger was the second-highest scorer for the Inferno with 10 points.
The Eagles would keep their efficiency on offense going throughout the second half. Their largest lead was 21 points and it came with just 5:35 left in the game. The Eagles also showed marked progress protecting the ball as they had only nine turnovers. They combined for 42 turnovers in the first two games of the season.
Rachel Pope (13 pts, 8 rebs., 4 asst.) led the Eagles offensively while Mariah Hill (13) and Ellyn Hayden (12) also reached double figures in points on the night. Sierra Jiran nailed two three-pointers in the first half and finished with eight points. The Eagles were also averaging 96.5 points against per game coming into tonight's contest.
Edgewood College will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at home against No. 5 UW-Oshkosh. The game will start at 7 pm from the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
