WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

A dominant bench effort and an explosive perimeter attack propelled the #RV Huntington women’s basketball team to a commanding 90–44 victory over Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College at the Knoerle Center on Saturday afternoon.

The win elevates Huntington to 4–0 on the season, marking the program’s best start since the 2015–16 campaign. The victory also marks head coach Darby Maggard’s second career win over Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (0–4), expanding her head-to-head coaching record against the Pomeroys to 2–0 following an 89–23 triumph in their previous matchup last season.

Senior center Liv Raby opened the game’s scoring with an interior tip-in, triggering a fast start for the Foresters. Junior guard Kyndra Sheets quickly followed with a three-pointer, and Huntington went on to shoot 66.7 percent from beyond the arc (6-for-9 3PT) in the opening period to build a 25–11 lead.

Senior guard Peyton Hartsough and senior forward Annaka Nelson knocked down fast-break triples, while freshman guards Alexis Neely and Hannah Higgs added long-range strikes off the bench before Nelson beat the first-quarter buzzer with her second triple of the frame.

The Foresters put on a defensive masterclass in the second quarter, restricting Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to just 1-of-13 shooting (7.7 percent) from the field and six total points.

Freshmen Eva Herbert and Alexis Neely triggered an early second-frame surge with transition buckets, while freshman center Lillian George added four points in the paint during the quarter. Sheets capped a half-ending sequence with a fast-break triple and a pull-up jumper, sending Huntington into the locker room with a commanding 48–17 advantage.

Huntington maintained its relentless pace in the second half, expanding the margin in the third period. Raby opened the third quarter with an interior score, and Sheets quickly added her third triple of the afternoon. George continued her high-efficiency scoring down the stretch, adding six points in the paint during the period. Nelson then sank two free throws in the final minute of the frame to send HU into the fourth quarter ahead 68–32.

The Forester second unit put the exclamation point on the performance in the fourth period, knocking down five three-pointers. Herbert, Esther Moore, Higgs, and Neely (2) each connected from long distance as Huntington’s lead expanded to a game-high 46 points before closing out the 90–44 win.

Huntington’s reserves generated 64 of the team’s 90 points. George led five Foresters in double figures with a game-high 14 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance from the floor alongside five rebounds. Neely turned in a versatile stat line with 13 points (4-6 FG, 3-5 3PT), a team-high seven rebounds, and five assists.

Higgs scored 13 points with three triples, while Nelson tallied 13 points (3-5 FG, 3-4 3PT, 4-5 FT), five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals off the bench. Sheets rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range. Junior forward Addie Shank added six rebounds and four assists.

As a team, HU shot 49.2 percent from the floor (32-of-65), 40.5 percent from three-point range (15-of-37), and won the rebounding battle 46–32.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods was led by Deziree’ Bryant’s 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Samara Douglas joined her in double figures with 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. The Foresters held the Pomeroys to 25.0 percent shooting from the field (13-of-52) and 17.6 percent from deep (3-of-17).

UP NEXT
The 4–0 Foresters return to Platt Arena on Friday, Nov. 13, to host Rochester Christian University (Mich.) at 5:00 p.m. in the opening game of the Forester Classic.