WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The HU women’s basketball team played a near-perfect first quarter on the way to blowing out Taylor 107-66 Wednesday night at Odle Arena. The win completes the regular season sweep over the Trojans and ups Huntington’s current win streak to three.

The Foresters took care of business right off the bat opening up a 19-6 lead forcing a Taylor timeout four minutes in. After missing their first shot, HU made their next 11 on the way to missing just three shots in the quarter. Six of HU’s 15 first quarter field goals were from the cheap seats. When all was said and done, the visitors’ eye-popping performance made for a 39-12 disparity at the first break.

Kyndell Jochim was unreal. The 6-1 sharpshooter connected on her first four from deep. She also threw in an old fashioned three-point play to unleash for 15 first quarter points.

While the game was already too far gone, the second quarter was the only ten-minute segment TU outscored their guests, 20-17, for a 56-32 difference at the midway point. HU got back to business in the second half to pad their lead by another 17 points by game’s end having outscored Taylor 51-34 in the final 20 minutes.

Jochim was dead eye from deep with her first six three-pointers barely touching net. She ended up 6-for-9 from long range while going 2-for-2 inside the arc and 1-for-1 from the line for a game-high and career-best 23 points. She also added six rebounds, two assists and two steals to complete her stunning performance.

Addie Shank also had a banner day. The 6-0 rookie post erupted for 15 first half points having gone 7-for-8 from the field. She added another four points in the second half to establish a new 19-point career-high. Bailey Kelham racked up 15 points and Kyndra Sheets came off the bench to drop in 12 for the Foresters.

Gabi Melby ran the show to perfection, handing out 11 dimes while also tossing in nine points. Annaka Nelson took charge of the glass, pulling down a game-best 11 rebounds.

As a team, Huntington scorched the nets to the tune of 59.1 percent by going 39-for-66 from the floor which included dropping in 14 three-pointers. It’s the fourth time this season Maggard’s crew has drained at least 14 triples in a game.

The Trojans (6-21, 1-16) landed two in double figures with Kendall Wayne and Whitney Warfel each recording 13 points.

Huntington boasts a 16-11 record which includes a 9-8 CL record. The Foresters will celebrate seniors Gabi Melby and Ruby Bolon on Saturday when they host Goshen in their last regular season game of the year.