MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team kicked off their 2024-25 campaign Saturday. They started their month-long road trip with a battle out west against North Central (MN). The Eagles (1-0) pulled away from the Rams (0-1) early and never looked back in a 68-56 victory to start
Kole Vivian's tenure as head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither team held more than a possession lead in the first five minutes of action. After locking horns at 9-9, Edgewood College attacked the paint in a 10-4 run over the next 4:12 to help claim a 23-17 edge after a quarter.
- The Eagles held a 6-0 advantage in points off turnovers and an 18-10 edge in points in the paint in the opening frame.
- After holding onto a 29-24 lead at the 7:14 mark in the second, the Edgewood College defense clamped down on North Central (MN). They would outscore the Rams 13-4 for the remainder of the half, building up a commanding 42-28 lead after
Kallie Norby sank a last-second three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
- The Eagles fended off North Central (MN) in the third quarter. Their lead would never dip below double-digits, with the bench outscoring the Rams' bench 5-0 as they maintained a 55-42 tally heading into the final 10 minutes.
- North Central (MN) would make headway into the Edgewood College lead in the fourth quarter. They put together a 5-1 stretch in 3:24 to cut the visitor's lead down to 58-51 at 4:59. The Eagles would finish off the game attacking in the paint and from the three-point line to claim a season-opening victory.
- Edgewood College's depth played a key role in the victory. They had an 18-to-2 advantage in bench points.
- Norby led all Eagles shooters with 22 points. She shot 10-of-16 from the field and contributed seven rebounds and two assists.
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Vivian Guerrero had a strong impact in the season opener. She earned a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds and added in team-highs with three steals and two blocks.
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Kate Gunderson played a key role in the victory with seven points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.
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Jayden Nortier helped run the Edgewood College offense with four assists. She also grabbed six rebounds.
- Kaitlyn VanderPloeg played a central role for the tough Rams. She earned a 24-point, 17-rebound double-double while tallying four steals and two blocks.
- Brycelyn Brewster was the other North Central (MN) shooter to finish in double figures with 14 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With her two blocks in the game,
Vivian Guerrero now holds the all-time record for blocked shots at Edgewood College. Her 140 blocked shots surpass Melissa Kozak (1991-95) and her 139.
- The victory was the first in a season opener since the 2019-2020 season.
- The Eagles hold a 5-1 advantage in the series against the Rams. They have won three-straight in a series that dates back to 1990-91.
UP NEXT
Edgewood College will continue their season-opening road gauntlet next Friday at the Hyatt Place Tournament. They'll battle WashU, ranked no. 18 in the preseason D3hoops.com poll, at Rock Island, Ill. First tip is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
