Midway, Ky. – After winning their first four games in the New Year, the Midway University women's basketball team suffered their first defeat of 2017 when they hosted Rio Grande (Ohio) on Friday, January 20, inside Marshall Gymnasium.
It was a combination of cold shooting and turnovers that hampered the Eagles as the RedStorm was able to walk away with the 75-63 win.
The Eagles (15-6, 6-3 RSC) shot just 36.4 percent from the floor (20-55), while shooting just 21.1 percent from long range hitting four in 19 attempts.
The RedStorm, on the other hand, didn't struggle shooting at all. Rio Grande (13-8, 5-4 RSC) torched the nets shooting 54.7 percent from the floor (29-53) and 38.5 percent from the 3-point line going 5-of-13.
Midway turned the ball over 16 times and forced the RedStorm into 27 miscues, but the visitors did a better job of converting the turnovers into points. Rio Grande converted Midway's miscues into 16 points, while the Eagles tallied 14 points off turnovers. The RedStorm also doubled the Eagles up in the rebounding battle 44-22.
Things looked good for the home team after they had built an 11-4 lead early on en route to an 18-16 edge after the first period, but things would change in the second stanza. After six ties to open the second quarter, the RedStorm dialed it up from deep draining back-to-back treys leading to a 36-33 lead at halftime.
The Eagles would be forced to come from behind throughout the second half. Midway had the lead down to two, 52-50, and had the ball with a chance to either tie or take the lead, but the RedStorm stretched their lead back out to 58-54 heading into the fourth quarter.
Midway had the lead down to four early in the fourth period at 60-56, but Rio Grande extended their lead out to a game-high 16, 73-57, after they went on a 13-1 run. With the run, the RedStorm were able to cruise to a 75-62 win.
The Eagles got a game-high 26 points from senior, Breanna Ball (Dayton, Ohio), but she was the only player to score in double figures. Jasmine Johnson (Liberty, Ky.) and Courtney Pfister (Mt. Washington, Ky.) each pitched in with eight and seven, respectively.
John Kenger's squad with have a quick turnaround as they are right back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET when they host West Virginia Tech inside Marshall Gymnasium.
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