FINDLAY HANDS CLARION FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON 78-64
FINDLAY, OHIO – Ashley Westenbarger scored a game-high 20 points on 8 of 9 shooting including 4 of 4 from 3-point land and added to lead Findlay to a 78-64 win over visiting Clarion Tuesday night in NCAA Division II women’s basketball action.
Clarion, which trailed 38-31 at halftime despite shooting 56.5 percent (13 of 23) in the first half, had four players in double figures led by 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench in just 23 minutes by Janelle Zabresky, who earlier in the day was named the PSAC-West Player of the Week for games ending Nov. 24.
Katrina Greer and Ashley Grimm each added 12 points for the Golden Eagles (3-1) with Grimm also contributing five assists and two steals. Jessica Albanese returned to the line-up after missing the first three games with an injury to score 10 points while pulling down four rebounds, while Sara Pratt had eight points and six boards. My’Kea Cohill chipped in with nine tallies and six steals.
Audra Mihalic, Brittany Wells and Cate Cianchetti each added 12 points for Findlay (2-2) with Cianchetti adding a team-high six assists and Wells a team-best four steals. Finlay shot 52.6 percent for the game (30 of 57) including 6 of 13 from beyond the arc while outrebounding Clarion 34-28.
Clarion finished the game shooting 46.2 percent (24 of 52) while also going 14 of 18 from the free-throw line.
The game was tight throughout most of the first half with Finlay holding a 4-point lead, 23-19, with eight minutes left before going on an 8-0 run to give itself some breathing room.
The Oilers then started he second half on an 18-6 run to take a 19-point lead, 56-37, with 14 minutes left in the game. Clarion never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.
Clarion returns to action Saturday when it hosts Mansfield at 1 p.m. and Sunday when it hosts Bloomsburg at 1 p.m.