PRESQUE ISLE, ME
The UMPI women took the court for the second straight day, in need of a conference win. The Owls would face a winless Vermont State Johnson team. Despite their record, the Badgers came out hot and would play with the lead for the entire first half and beyond. UMPI responded though and came back to take control and eventually closed out the eight point win behind some efficient offense.
How it Happened:
The Owls started out slowly, as Johnson hit some shots early on to take the lead. Alexis Ireland picked up her 1000th career rebound mid-way through the second quarter. She becomes the first player to ever do so in UMPI Women's Basketball history. Despite this milestone that was recognized during the second quarter, Johnson was unphased and continued to control the game. Kristie Zator made a name for herself, knocking down an astonishing nine three-pointers on just ten attempts, and went 13-15 from the field overall. She put up 35 points to lead the Badgers on the day. UMPI couldn't find an answer in the first half, trailing by four at halftime.
In the second half, the Owls woke up and went on a big run thanks to some timely shooting to retake the lead. The Owls closed out the third quarter strong and lead by nine going into the final frame. The game stayed high scoring as both teams made shots, but the Owls answered the bell nicely. They finished the day at 41% from the field—their second highest clip of the year. In the end, the Owls were able to close out the win, winning by a final score of 79-67.
Top Performers:
It proved to be Alexis Ireland's day as she not only reached 1000 career rebounds but also recorded her first triple double. She had 22 points to lead UMPI, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists. Anaira Ayala heated up big time from beyond the arc in the second half especially, knocking down five threes en route to 19 points. Lindsay Hamilton recorded her season high 18 points and six boards, while Camryn Ala added 12 points and six rebounds.
Next Up:
The Owls improve to 4-11 overall on the year and more importantly 3-4 in the North Atlantic Conference. They will have a few days of practices before continuing their homestand with a conference matchup against Thomas College on the 24th at 5:30 p.m.
