WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The HU women’s basketball team outlasted Ohio Christian, 88-74, at Platt Arena to head into the new year on a high note. Today’s meeting was the first between these two programs and marks the end of non-conference play for the Foresters this season.

While Huntington had several key performances this afternoon, junior Gabi Melby was key cog. The 5-4 point guard went off for 35 points which included putting the team on her back in the fourth where she scored 19 of Huntington’s 31 points to will HU to the win.

Melby’s fourth quarter frenzy saw her finish three and ones and connect on all 11 of her freebies.

Heading into the final ten minutes, only three points separated the two teams with HU on top 57-54. Through the first three quarters, the lead had swapped back and forth ten times and been deadlocked 13 times so the game’s final 14-point disparity didn’t necessarily give an accurate picture of just how close the game really was.

Huntington outscored the Trailblazers 31-20 in the fourth which included a near perfect finish. With just four points separating the two squads with five minutes remaining, the hosts scored on all but one possession the rest of the way starting with Ruby Bolon’s reverse layup at the 4:58 mark that put HU up 68-62.

With just over a minute to go, Huntington had extended their lead to ten at 80-70 and so began the march to the free throw line. Melby went 4-for-4 while Peyton Hartsough and Emily Seboe each dropped in a pair to ensure the win and send Ohio Christian (8-4) home with just their fourth loss of the season.

In addition to her game-high 35 points, Melby also posted four assists, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks to do a little bit of everything for Maggard’s crew. Seboe also had an active day to drop 12 in addition to cleaning the glass for 11 boards for the double double.

Saddled with foul trouble most of the day, Bailey Kelham still finished with 11 points. Bolon sparked HU off the bench with ten points having gone a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.

Haley Cox logged a double double of 29 points and 11 rebounds for OCU. Emma Koons added 18 points and nine boards while Ashley Deweese and JoLeigh Hamilton tossed in 16 and ten points respectively for the Trailblazers.

Stats tell the final story. HU sizzled the nets at the line by going 29-for-33 for 87.9 percent while their guests finished 18-for-26 for 69.2 percent. While the hosts not only committed four fewer miscues than OCU, Huntington’s conversion rate was off the charts as they outscored the Trailblazers 26-4 on points off turnovers.

The Foresters have won six of their last seven games to improve to 8-5 on the year. Next up for Maggard and crew is a trip to Mount Vernon on January 3.