LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding women's basketball team pulled away in the third quarter to beat Blackburn, 64-50, Saturday afternoon at Columbia Gym. With the win the Golden Eagles improve to 9-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
 
THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 64 – Blackburn 50
LOCATION: Columbia Gym | Louisville, Ky.
RECORDS: Spalding 9-6 (5-2 SLIAC) | Blackburn 1-12 (1-7 SLIAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spalding led the game from start to finish. Three-pointers by Maleah Hirn and Megan Goeing helped fuel an 8-0 start for SU. The Beavers would close the gap the remainder of the quarter outscoring the Golden Eagles, 10-4, trimming SU's lead to two points after one period. Blackburn's Gariel Pierce knocked down a jumper in the paint on the Beaver's first possession of the second quarter knotting the score at 12, but an Alex Martin layup sparked a 9-0 Spalding spurt capped off by five straight points by Hirn. A Goeing three-pointer late in the half extended SU's lead to 10 points, but a pair of turnovers and missed shots on Spalding's final possessions of the half allowed Blackburn to trim the margin to six points at the half.
 
- Out the break, the Beavers and Golden Eagles kept it close with Blackburn pulling to within five points following a Kate Smith layup with 4:46 to play in the period. The Golden Eagles used a quick 7-2 run capped off by a Martin three-pointer to push the lead to 10 points and led 44-34 heading into the final quarter. Spalding pulled away in the fourth, extending the lead to a game-high 16 points twice. The first time on a pair of Hirn free throws with 8:32 to play and again at the 1:35 mark on a pair of Allison Just free throws. The Beavers attempted to get back into the game by fouling late, but SU converted their free throws earning the victory, 64-50.
 
NOTABLE STATS
- Alex Martin posted a double-double tallying 15 points and 13 rebounds.  Freshman, Maleah Hirn paced the Golden Eagles offense with 16 points. Megan Goeing also finished in double-figures with 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. Allison Just, playing the five position for the first time this season, hauled in 10 rebounds and Kendyl Powell provided a spark off the bench with five points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes of action.

- The Golden Eagles used turnovers to generate offense against the Beavers, converting 30 turnovers into 28 points off turnovers. Despite playing with a five-guard lineup most of the game, SU was also able to outscore the Beavers, 15-to-8, in second chance points.
 
FOR THE FOES
- Gariel Pierce paced the Beavers with a double-double recording a team-high 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jenna Dudra and Kate Smith also finished in double-figures scoring 10 points apiece.
 
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Wednesday, January 16 at home against Fontbonne, taking on the Griffins at 6:00 pm EST.