The women's basketball team continued their stretch of non-conference games with an afternoon matinee against Midway. Making their first and longest road trip of the season, the Cardinals came out on top to defeat the Eagles, 60-57. The Cardinals relied on their defense and timely free throw shooting to pick up their second win the season.
The Cardinals recorded a 16 steals converting those into 27 of the team's 60 points. Katie Snow recorded a team high 7 steals. The did not score a field goal in the last 4:54 but managed to record five free throws and get timely defensive stops.
The Cardinals showed no signs of a long bus ride jumping out to a quick 7-0 in the first three minutes of the games. The Cardinals extended their lead by as much as 11 in the first quarter on a three point basket by Stephanie Abraham, 11-4. The Eagles found their rythmn late in the quarter to trim the deficit to two, 15-13 after the first quarter.
The Eagles started the second quarter on a 9-0 to take the lead 24-15 with 7:56 left in the quarter. The Eagles went on to take their largest lead of the game at 30-19 with 3:39 left in the first half. The Cardinals responded with a 7-0 run of their own on baskets by Alize Tripp, Averi Bebble, and Katie Snow to end the half.
The Cardinals started the second half the same way the ended the first half with a quick 7-0 run. Ally Hunt nailed a three pointer the Cardinals first possession. On the ensuing defensive possession, Snow recorded one of her second steals and turned that into two points for the Cardinals. Trys'styn Williams kept the run going with two free throws to make it 33-30 with 8:56 left it the third quarter. The Cardinals and Eagles traded baskets for much of the third before a late 6-0 gave the Eagles a 47-41 lead after three quarters of play.
The Eagles looked to put the Cardinals away early in the fourth quarter (49-41) but the Cardinals hung tough. Two free throws by Katie Snow with 8:10 left in the game trimmed the Eagles lead 51-45. A couple possessions later, Ally Hunt gave the Cardinals the lead 52-51. Katie Snow gave the Cardinals another lead, 55-53 on another three pointer with 4:54 left in the game. The Cardinals defensive, togetherness, and free throws would bring it home from there.
Katie Snow and Avery Bebble paced the Cardinals offensive attack with 20 and 11 points respectively. Snow also recorded a team high eight rebounds and seven steals. The Cardinals stingy defensive recorded 16 steals, forced 27 turnovers and held the Eagles to 31% field goal percentage.
Coach Haffey's was pleased with the Cardinals ability to stay together. "I am proud of this group because of our ability to band together," said Haffey. "With a lot of ambiguity this season, we've really bought in and exemplified the WE>ME mentality. Our girls are playing for each other because they know on any given night we can win games in a variety of ways."
The Cardinals improve to 2-1 on the young season and will hit the road again on Tuesday. The Cardinals will face Spring Arbor on Tuesday with tipoff scheduled for 7pm.
