LOUISVILLE, Ky – The Spalding University women's basketball team defeated Blackburn College, 74-55, Saturday afternoon in Derek Smith Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles finish the regular season with a 17-8 overall record and 11-7 in the SLIAC finishing fourth in the final conference standings. The win also earns the Golden Eagles the three seed in next week's SLIAC Tournament as Spalding looks to make their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  
 
Brandy Hunter led Spalding in scoring with 14 points and added seven assists to complete here day. Alex Martin followed close behind with 13 points and eight assists. Maya Hardin led the Golden Eagles in rebounds with 14. Aleisha Stiltner and Danae Smith each tallied 20 points for Blackburn.
 
Hardin started things off for Spalding to get the game's first basket. After Spalding earned a 7-6 lead, Blackburn would jump back in front, 10-7 midway through the first quarter. The teams would continue to battle back and forth and the quarter would end in a 15 -15 deadlock after a jumper from Kim Mingus.
 
Spalding would open the second quarter on a 10-2 run, including six points from Maddie Martin. Blackburn's Stiltner would hit a three-point field goal to cut the Spalding lead to 25-20 and try to quell the Golden Eagles run. Spalding stayed the course and used a 10-2 run to push their lead further at 35-22 with just over four minutes remaining in the half. Spalding would outscore the Beavers 10-4 over that final stretch and take a 45-26 lead into the locker room.
 
A quick 4-0 spurt by Spalding to start the third was silenced by another Stiltner three-point basket. Blackburn was looking for a way back into the game trialing 49-29. An 8-4 jolt led again by Stiltner's three-point field goal saw Blackburn cut the lead down to 16 points with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Spalding would outscore Blackburn 4-3 over those final two minutes to lead 57-40 after three quarters of play.
 
The fourth was started off with a 7-4 spurt by Blackburn still trying to find their way back into the ball game. Spalding used a 6-0 run to extend their lead back out to 20 points at 67-47 with just over five minutes left in the game. A 6-1 run by Blackburn cut the Golden Eagle lead to 15 at 68-53, but just over three minutes would be all that remained on the clock. Spalding would close the game out on a 6-2 run and hold the ball for the final 16 seconds.
 
Spalding will begin their quest for a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance Friday, February 26^th when they take on Greenville on the campus of Westminster College in the SLIAC Tournament first round. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 pm EST.