WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

There’s a reason the Taylor women’s basketball team is ranked 5th nationally, and the #21 Foresters learned that firsthand Wednesday night by suffering a 68-53 loss to the Trojans at Odle Arena. With this win, Taylor remains perfect on the year at 21-0, 9-0 in CL action.

The numbers tell the story as TU is undeniably one of if not the best shooting team in the country. As a squad, they claim the top spot in 3-point field goal percentage (.410) and free throw percentage (.800) while also sliding in at No. 2 in 3-point field goals made per game (11.7) and No. 13 in overall field goal percentage (.457). Individually, three Trojans rank in the top eight nationally in 3-point field goal percentage.

On this given night, the Foresters gave up 11 threes but held their hosts ten points below their season average and forced 16 TOs. HU did some other noteworthy things, including chasing down 17 offensive rebounds and committing a season-low nine miscues. Unfortunately, Culler’s crew struggled to put the ball in the hole. They shot 32.3 percent from the field and knocked down just half of their freebies.

It was the first half that did Huntington in. As has been the case the last few outings, the Foresters dug themselves into a hole that proved too deep to get out of. After being on the wrong end of a 35-20 halftime score, HU played even with TU in the final 20 minutes but it was too little too late. The loss is Huntington’s third straight.

Erin Mohr topped Culler and company with 14 points. Sarah Fryman added 11 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals. Sam Hammel finished with nine points, a team-best nine rebounds and three assists. Dazia Drake came off the bench to post career-highs of nine points and six rebounds.

Becca Buchs topped all scorers with 19 points. Her twin Abby added 18 while Haley Stratman tossed in 11. Between these three, they went a combined 10-for-13 from deep.

It doesn’t get any easier for HU (15-6, 4-5) as they host #11 Saint Francis on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for the start of round two in conference play.