WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Huntington women’s basketball team cruised to their largest margin of victory of the year Wednesday night at the Wiekamp Athletic Center by manhandling Bethel 90-51. The W stretches the Foresters’ win streak over the Pilots to nine.

Culler’s squad set the tone by scoring on ten of their first 12 possessions to bolt in front 22-6 by the 3:07 mark of the first quarter. Between Sam Vaughn and Maddy Robrock, the pair accounted for 15 points in the opening seven minutes. There was no looking back after that.

HU’s 17-point lead at the first break stretched to 29, 53-23, by intermission. Huntington would go on outscore their hosts by ten in the final 20 minutes to make for the 39-point disparity by the final buzzer.

Scoring was by committee with 14 different Foresters putting points on the board. Vaughn led the balanced attack with a game-high 14 points to go along with a team-leading eight rebounds and five assists.

Alaina Rongos chipped in 13 points. Robrock and Dazia Drake added ten points apiece. The pair combined to go 9-for-9 from the field. Jade Clement was also perfect from the floor by knocking down all three of her shots which included two from long range for eight points.

As a team, HU shot a season-high 52.9 percent (36-for-68) from the floor which included making good on nine of their 18 three-pointers. Culler’s bench outscored Bethel’s bench 35-9. The Foresters also converted 17 Bethel TOs into 28 points and outscored their hosts on second chance points 13-7.

Brielle Harrison and Kelsey Brickner posted 12 points each to pace Bethel. Harrison also tracked down ten boards for the double double.

With this win, Huntington improves to 8-6 overall, 5-5 in league play while the loss leaves the Pilots (4-13, 0-10) still longing for their first league win. The Foresters return to Platt Arena on Saturday to host Mount Vernon at 1:00 p.m.