Honolulu, HI and McKinley High School played host to the Spalding University Golden Eagles tonight when the ladies took on Division 3 opponent Worcester State University.  Worcester is currently 4-4 in this young season coming off a victory versus Mount Holyoke last Tuesday 72-49.  The Golden Eagles are sitting at 4-3 this season coming off 2 straight victories last week over Midway College and Saint Mary of the Woods.

The Lancers got on the board early with an easy layup to go up 2-0.  Two minutes later, Kerstin Hayes gave the Golden Eagles the lead with a 3 pointer assisted by Melinda Leavell.  Melinda,  5 minutes into the first half gave Spalding a 6 point lead with a 3 pointer of her own.  Defensively, Spalding dominated the Lancers getting almost every available rebound.  Brilliant passing with a good finish would produce an 11 point lead for the Golden Eagles at 17-6 and Kerstin Hayes’s 8^th point of the half.

The Golden Eagles would hold the Lancers pointless for 8 straight minutes giving them a 17 point lead with only 2 minutes to go in the first half.  Spalding would take a 19 point lead into half time at 32-13.  Kerstin Hayes led with 12 points going 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the line. 

The Lancers would start crawling back early in the second half going on a 6-0 run about 4 minutes in.  The scoring would go back and forth for most of the half with both teams going to the rim and forcing fouls.  A few Lancer turnovers would get the score to 47-26 which was the largest lead of the night for the Golden Eagles. 

Spalding would hold on to the their lead and take the victory 52-34. Melinda Leavell lead the Golden Eagles with 18 points shooting 50%(4-8) from the 3 point line. Kerstin Hayes was right behind Melinda with 13 points and a 12 point first half.

Spalding takes on George Fox University tonight at 6:00 pm (Hawaii Standard Time).

Tags: General, Women's Basketball //