LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding women's basketball team dropped 30 fourth quarter points to takedown Blackburn, 69-59, Saturday afternoon at Columbia Gym. With the win, the Golden Eagles sweep the season series against the Beavers to improve to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in SLIAC play.

Senior Natalie Fichter paced the Spalding offense tallying 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals to record her seventh double-double of the season. Freshman guard Maelyn Ridener also provided a spark scoring a career-high 18 points while connecting on 7-of-10 free throw attempts. Molly Thompson also had a solid all-around game finishing with 7 points, 11 rebounds and 3 steals.

The two teams went shot-for-shot in the first quarter with Spalding eventually nudging their way out to a 10-6 lead following a Fichter three-pointer with 3:45 remaining in the first quarter. However, the Beavers outscored SU, 6-2, to end the period tied, 12-12. Blackburn's offense came out firing in the second quarter with Mariah Hopson scoring four points as the Beavers pulled in front, 19-14, three minutes into the quarter. Spalding answered with a quick 7-0 run capped off by a Kailey Reed jumper to take a 21-19 advantage with 4:18 to remaining in the second, but Blackburn would outscore the Golden Eagles 7-4 to end the quarter taking a 26-25 lead into halftime.

Similar to the second quarter, the Beavers offense came out hot extending their lead to seven points, 36-29, following back-to-back baskets by Madison Duncan.  A Fichter jumper followed by a defensive and a pair of Ridener free throws, helped ignite a quick 8-2 Spalding spurt to cut the deficit to one-point. From there, the Golden Eagles kept it close the remainder of the period heading into the fourth quarter trailing, 41-39. A Ridener jumper on Spalding's first possession tied the game at 41 apiece and the two teams were neck and neck through the first four and half minutes, but Spalding still trailed 52-51 with 5:20 to play. However, a Thompson three-pointer put Spalding in front, 54-52, but the Beavers answered with a 3-0 spurt to regain the lead 55-54 with 3:45 to go. With the game tied, 57-57, a Fichter three-pointer put Spalding in front, 60-57, and the Golden Eagles never looked back as they pulled away to a 69-59 victory.

Up next, the Golden Eagles head to St. Louis for a rematch with the Fonbonne Griffins Thursday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET.