1.28.12 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs Down Highlanders 62-50; Final Four Team Receives Rings

Women's Basketball, 2012-01-28

On a day when last year’s squad received its rings for making the Final Four, this year’s team made sure to make the entire day enjoyable by defeating Houghton 62-50.  The Cavs (11-11, 7-3) are back at .500 for the first time since last month. The Highlanders (11-9, 3-5) have now fallen to defeat in their last three games.

Houghton played tough for the first seven minutes of the game and took the hosts by surprise with a 9-2 lead. However, the Cavs responded well by going on a 15-2 run across the next seven minutes and forced Houghton to call a timeout to regroup. After a three-pointer by the Highlanders made the score 17-14, Walsh’s offense continued to roll and finished the half on an 18-3 run to go into the locker room up 25-17. The Cavs led by as many as 19 during that stretch.

Walsh kept a double-digit lead until Houghton made a strong run in the middle of the second half. A pair of threes and another jumper just inside the arc by the Highlanders made the score 48-47 in favor of the Cavs with 7:13 to play. From there, Walsh’s defense kicked it into gear and didn’t allow Houghton to score another basket from the field.

Offensively, the Cavaliers were 3-6 from the field and 6-7 from the foul line the rest of the way. The ball was spread out well as 10 different players reached the scoring column. Kristi Yoder (Sr., 6-1, Millersburg, OH/Hiland) led the team with 12 points on 5-8 shooting from the field and added six rebounds. Mandi Swickard (Sr., 6-1, Alexandria, OH/Northridge) led in the rebound department with a game-high eight caroms. Tracy Payne (Jr., 5-5, Danville, OH/HS/Notre Dame College) was credited with five assists.

Walsh out-rebounded Houghton 41-35 and forced the Highlanders into 23 turnovers.

The Cavs are next in action on Tuesday as they host Carlow on the final day in January. Tip-off is for 7 p.m. on the single-game evening.

BOXSCORE