ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Spalding women's basketball team led wire to wire to win their season opener over Bluffton University, 72-57, at the Cavallo Webster Tipoff Classic.

Kayla Styles and Jessica Guy combined for 44 points and 30 rebounds. Styles, in her first collegiate game, led the Golden Eagles with 23 points and 17 rebound, and Guy tallied a double-double with 21 points and 13 boards. Sophomore guard Kayla Riggs had an efficient 10 points, going 3-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.    

The Golden Eagles jumped on the Beavers from the start, Styles and Guy combined for SU's first 10 points helping Spalding get out to a 17-4 lead. However, Bluffton scraped their way back into the game outscoring SU 14-5 capped off by a pair of Macey Sheerer free throws to make the score 22-18 with 6:18 to play. Kayla Riggs knocked down two three pointers late in the half to help SU outscore BU 17-7 to end the half taking a 39-25 lead into the break.

Much like the first half, Styles and Guy scored eight of SU's first ten points as the Golden Eagles stretched their lead to 17 points five minutes into the half. Bluffton's Macey Sheerer scored eight points fueling an18-7 Beaver run cutting Spalding's lead to six at 50-56. Nevertheless the trio of Styles, Guy and Riggs scored 14 of Spalding's final 16 points as the Golden Eagles pulled away for a 72-57 win.

The Lady Eagles shot 44.1% percent from the field while holding Bluffton to 28.8% shooting, and held a plus 18 advantage on the boards resulting in 22 second chance points.

Spalding will be back in action Sunday, November 16 against Dominican University at 2:00 p.m. EST. You can catch the action live HERE.