MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa – Women's basketball cruised past Iowa Wesleyan, 70-58, Wednesday evening in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. The Golden Eagles record improves to 7-11 on the season and 5-5 in SLIAC competition, while Iowa Wesleyan drops to 3-14 and 3-6 in SLIAC play.  

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 70 – Iowa Wesleyan 58
LOCATION: Ruble Arena, Mt. Pleasant, IA.   
RECORD: Spalding 7-11 (5-5 SLIAC), Iowa Wesleyan 3-14 (3-6 SLIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Spalding raced out to a 26-7 lead at the 1:42 mark in the first quarter and led 26-12 after the first 10 minutes. A Mackenzie Myers jumper extended SU's lead to 18 points early in the second quarter, but Iowa Wesleyan limited the Golden Eagles to three-points the remainder of the quarter cutting SU's lead to 12 points at halftime. Spalding looked to be back on track in the third pushing their lead back to 18 points following a Tselem Gahagan jumper at the 6:34 mark. The Tigers responded with an 18-2 run trimming Spalding's lead to two with 19 seconds left in the third, but an Alex Martin three-pointer at the horn pushed the margin to five heading into the fourth quarter. Allison Just connected on a pair of three-pointers on back-to-back possessions pushing Spalding's lead back to double digits as SU went on to win it 70-58.

Alex Martin led the Golden Eagles with 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. Lelanda Matthews tallied 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Allison Just added 11 points.

Two key stats were the Golden Eagles plus-10 advantage in points in the paint, and plus-13 margin in points off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES

Josie Zerrusen led Iowa Wesleyan earning a double-double scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Up next, the Golden Eagles head to Westminster to take on the Blue Jays Saturday, January 28 at 2:00 pm EST.