CARLINVILLE, IL. - The Spalding women's basketball team took down Blackburn College, 70-47, Thursday evening in Carlinville, Ill. Spalding improved 12-4 overall and 6-3 in SLIAC play while Blackburn falls 2-6 in conference play.
 
Maya Hardin lead the Golden Eagles with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists. Mackenzie Meyers added another 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Maddie Martin tallied 12 points and six boards.
 
Hardin jumpstarted the first quarter for the Eagles with back-to-back lay-ups, giving the Eagles a 4-1 lead. Aleisha Stiltner of Blackburn would quickly tie the game as she buried a three pointer. The first quarter would continue to be close until Hardin hit a string of free throws that would keep the Eagles in the lead, followed by Hardin assisting Brandy Hunter with a three pointer of her own. With 17 seconds left in the first quarter, Alex Martin hit a lay-up, ending the quarter 21-8 in Spalding's favor.
 
Hardin hit two free throws to start the second quarter. Back-to-back lay-ups made by Maddie Martin and Alex Martin would push the Eagles ahead by a 12 point margin. Following up would be consecutive lay-ups made by Julie Skaggs and Kim Mingus as the Golden Eagles continued to increase their margin. Brandy Hunter hit a three-pointer with 48 seconds left in the quarter to send the Eagles to break leading, 38-17.
 
Mackenzie Myers found Hardin for a layup to start the third quarter. The ball would go back and forth between the two teams, Blackburn not giving up as Stiltner buried a three point jumper. Alex Martin hit a jumper of her own, which would once again ignite the Eagles. Eight trips to the line and Brandy Hunter swishing another jumper at the 33-second mark kept the Eagles ahead 56-31.
 
Blackburn fought back the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough. Mackenzie Meyers would hit her first three-pointer of the night as the Eagles continued to grow their lead. Maddie Martin hit a string of lay-ups, pushing the Eagles ahead 67-40 with 3:04 left on the clock. Two free throws by Mackenzie Meyers would solidify the Eagle victory over Blackburn and a defensive rebound made by Maddie Martin would end the game, Spalding coming out victorious over Blackburn 70-47.
 
The Golden Eagles are off to Fulton, Missouri this weekend to take on the Westminster Blue Jays Saturday, January 23 at 2 pm the SLIAC Game of the Week.