LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Spalding women's basketball played SLIAC opponent Principia on Tuesday. SU came out with the win, 61-52.

The Golden Eagles moved to 6-12 (5-6 SLIAC), while the Panthers fell to 10-8 (7-4 SLIAC).

TURNING POINT
Spalding set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-9 lead behind sharp three-point shooting and aggressive defensive pressure at the end of the first quarter. Senior Ma'Kaylia Lute wasted no time making her presence felt, knocking down back-to-back threes to spark the Golden Eagles offense. Sydney Raque and Zaneiya Batiste also contributed early, with Raque facilitating the offense and Batiste controlling the paint with key rebounds and second-chance points.

However, Principia refused to go away quietly. The Panthers responded in the second quarter with increased defensive intensity, forcing several Spalding turnovers and capitalizing on fast-break opportunities. The Golden Eagles' offense stalled momentarily, allowing Principia to cut into the lead. Spalding held a narrow 27-23 advantage going into halftime, relying on strong free-throw shooting and defensive stops in the final minutes of the second quarter to maintain their edge.

After halftime, the Golden Eagles reestablished their rhythm. Lute continued her strong performance, finishing the game with 19 points, including four three-pointers. Raque added 16 points and four assists, while Batiste recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Spalding's defense tightened up in the third quarter, limiting Principia's scoring and extending the lead to 45-36 heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers made one last push, cutting the deficit to five points with under five minutes remaining. But Spalding responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by a clutch three from Lute and a key defensive stop by Batiste. The Golden Eagles held firm, closing the game with brilliant shot selection and solid free-throw shooting.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• Ma'Kaylia Lute led Spalding with 19 points, including four three-pointers.
• Sydney Raque added 16 points and four assists for the Golden Eagles.
• Zaneiya Batiste achieved a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

NEXT FOR SPALDING
Spalding will host SLIAC opponent Fontbonne on Saturday, February 1st. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 pm.