Box Score

On Thursday night the Lady Eagles traveled to Greenville, IL to play SLIAC opponent Greenville College; they returned home with a 74-56 victory over the Lady Panthers and a 14-3 conference record (14-9 overall)and the number one spot entering the SLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament. Spalding has won 8 out of the last 10 conference games to land in the top spot, and will host the tournament scheduled for February 28 and March 1.

Leading the way for the Lady Eagles is guard Kerstin Hayes who is currently averaging 14.6 points per game and 2.6 assists per game for the 2013-2014 season; she finished Thursday's game with a game high 26 points and 4 steals. Lady Eagle forward, Jessica Guy recorded a double-double grabbing 13 rebounds and scoring 17 points.

Coley Baker led the way for the Lady Panthers of Greenville College with 12 points and 7 blocks. Miranda Murray would add 12 points off the Greenville bench.

A 3-point play, resulting from a Hayes jump shot and a subsequent free throw, sparked the Lady Eagles 8-2 run to open the game. The Lady Panthers would go on their own run, 7-2, to cut Spalding's lead to 10-9 with just over 14 minutes remaining in the first half. With 7:42 left in the half the Lady Panthers held a 19-17 lead over Spalding; this lead would not last long. Spalding ended the half outscoring Greenville 12 to 8, to take a 29-27 half-time lead. The Lady Eagles were held to shooting just 10-of-35 (28.6%), while their opponents ended the half shooting 11-of-26 (42.3%). With a low shooting percentage, the Lady Eagles counted on rebounds for extra opportunities to score; they ended the half outrebounding Greenville22 to 11.

In the opening minutes of the second half, the Lady Eagles began to pull away and a 3-point shot made by Spalding guard Hannah Washle at the 11:11 mark would give the Lady Eagles a 47-37 lead; this would be the first time in the game either team led by double digits. Over the next 3:48 minutes Spalding and the Lady Panthers would match point for point with the Lady Eagles still holding on to a 10 point lead at 56-46. Spalding ended the last 6:49 of the game outscoring the Lady Panthers 17 to 10 which led to the Spalding 74-56 victory.

Spalding finished the game shooting just 37.3 percent from the field while their SLIAC opponent shot 21 of 51 ending the game with a 41.2 shooting percentage. The Lady Eagles continued to dominate on the boards and finished the game outrebounding Greenville 53 to 30.

The Lady Eagles finish the regular season Saturday, February 22 against SLIAC opponent Westminster College at 1:00 p.m. EST at Derrick Smith Gymnasium (DSG).