Cincinnati, Ohio – The Spalding women's basketball team closed out 2018 with a 54-51 win over Mount St. Joseph improving to 7-4 on the season.

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 54 – Mount St. Joseph 51
LOCATION: Harrington Center | Cincinnati, Ohio
RECORDS: Spalding 7-4 | MSJ 6-5

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Golden Eagles raced out of the gate taking an 11-0 lead. The Lions trimmed SU's lead to nine with 1:48 remaining, but a Maleah Hirn three-pointer on Spalding's last possession of the half pushed the margin back to 12 points at the end of the first quarter. The Lions scored on back-to-back possessions to start the second quarter and continued reel in the Golden Eagles the remainder of the half cutting SU's lead to five points at halftime.     

- The Lions held Spalding to seven points in the third quarter cutting SU's lead to one point with just over a minute to play in the quarter, but an Alex Martin layup pushed the Golden Eagles margin back to three heading into the final period. Spalding looked to be cruising to a win as they pulled ahead 53-42 with 2:46 to play, but the Lions came roaring back to cut SU's lead to three with just over a minute to play. However, a pair of potential game-tying three-pointers missed the mark and the Golden Eagles escaped with a 54-51 victory.

- Alex Martin led the Golden Eagles tallying a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Allison Just finished with 12 points and five rebounds. Tse Gahagan passed out a team-high five assists, while adding five rebounds and two points. Hannah Renfro and Kendyl Powell came off the bench to provide a big presence on the boards. Renfro pulled down eight rebounds, while Powell collected six rebounds in just seven minutes of action.

FOR THE FOES
- Maddie Haberthy led the Lions with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Alehia Tucker and Lainee Studer added 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Thursday, January 3 traveling to Westminster College to take on the Blue Jays at 6:30 pm EST.