MT. PLEASANT, Iowa – Coach Charlie Just achieved a career milestone Saturday afternoon at Ruble Arena earning his 500th career women's win, and 550th total career win on the collegiate level. With a 68-49 win over Iowa Wesleyan, the Golden Eagles have now won six in a row improving to 13-6 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Spalding 68 – Iowa Wesleyan 49
LOCATION: Ruble Arena| Mt. Pleasant, Iowa
RECORDS: Spalding 13-6 (8-2 SLIAC) | Iowa Wesleyan 3-14 (2-9 SLIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Iowa Wesleyan jumped out to an early three-point lead 7-4, but Alex Martin would hit a mid-ranger jumper with 6:50 left to play to cut the lead to one 7-6. Spalding took the lead with 5:49 to go in the first quarter with a Maleah Hirn three-pointer. A Hirn jumper ignited a run where the Golden Eagles would score 15 points to the Tigers six. Spalding the scored 11 unanswered points to start the second quarter, taking a 19-point lead 32-13. Derricka Martin would hit a three to cut the lead to 16, but Martin was just too much as she scored in 17 points in the first half to help the Golden Eagles go into halftime with a 32-21 lead.
- The second half started with a big block by Allison Just. A few plays later Martin hit a layup off a Hirn assist, putting Spalding up 34-19. The Tigers attempted a comeback in the third quarter with 6:49 left to play. The Golden Eagles lead was cut to eight 38-30, after Darby Massner hit a three-pointer. However, an Allison Just three-pointer with 2:56 left to play would spark another scoring spurt, with the Golden Eagles would going on a 10-2 run to end the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Spalding controlled the ball and the clock, extending their lead to a game high 23-points on a free-throw by Kendyl Powell. Spalding would go on to cruise to a 19-point win, 68-49.
NOTABLE STATS
- Alex Martin had another great outing for the Golden Eagles scoring a game-high 21 points, grabbed seven boards, handed out two assists, and had three steals. Maleah Hirn was productive running the offense handing out seven assists, four rebounds, and had 13 points. Just was hot from the three-point line knocking down 4-of-5 threes finishing the game with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
- The Golden Eagles held the Tigers to shooting 26.8% shooting from the field and 25.0% from deep, while Spalding shot 33.8% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range. The Golden Eagles out rebounded the Tigers 48-26 and assisted on eight more shots. Spalding scored more points in the paint outscoring the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers 20-10.
FOR THE FOES
- Darby Massner scored 13 points, dished out two assists, and snagged seven rebounds. Allie Massner also added 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles are back in action Wednesday, January 30th taking on Webster at Grant Gymnasium at 8:00 pm EST.
