LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University's women's basketball team defeated Iowa Wesleyan, 65-51, Saturday afternoon in Derek Smith Gymnasium. The win brings the Golden Eagles overall record to 15-6 and 9-5 in SLIAC play. The loss drops Iowa Wesleyan to 15-6 overall and 10-4 in the conference.
Brandy Hunter led all in scoring with 20 points. She added seven rebounds and two assists. Alex Martin added 19 points, four rebounds and five assists. Maya Hardin led all in rebounding as she pulled in 11 off the glass.
The Golden Eagles ran out of the gate with a 7-2 run after opening with a three-pointer by Mackenzie Myers. Iowa Wesleyan would make four straight points to cut the lead down to one before Myers hit another three. Hunter went on a 6-0 run by herself hitting two three-point field goals to push the score to 16-8. Spalding would close the quarter out on a 5-0 run that included a buzzer beater by Alex Martin to make the score 23-14.
Spalding opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run capped off by Kim Mingus' three-point field goal. The remainder of the quarter would see the two teams battle back and forth. Spalding seemed to have an answer every time the Tigers looked to make a move, and took a 10-point lead into the locker room, 39-29.
Iowa Wesleyan started the third quarter on a 5-0 run to bring the score to 39-34. The Golden Eagles answered right back with an 8-0 run including six points from Hunter. Spalding would close out the quarter on a 7-0 run to head into the final frame with a 54-36 lead.
Iowa Wesleyan opened the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run in an attempt to claw their way back into the game. Both teams found scoring to be difficult in the late going.  A 5-2 run by Spalding with just over a minute remaining in the game gave the Golden Eagles a 61-47 lead. The game would close out as Spalding converted four free-throws.
Spalding will be back in action this Tuesday February 9^th, hosting Principia College in Derek Smith Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 pm EST.