Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
A season-high 11 3-pointers weren’t enough for the Valpo women’s basketball team to emerge victorious in their return to action Monday in Kalamazoo, Mich., as host Western Michigan came away with a 69-54 victory.
How It Happened
Valpo started the game strong offensively, scoring on five of its first six possessions of the game. Grace White (Redby, Minn./Red Lake [Denver]) had five points over consecutive trips to give Valpo a 12-7 lead four minutes into the contest.
The Beacons’ lead was still five points at 18-13 with 3:21 to play in the quarter as Shay Frederick (Greenville, Wis./Hortonville) connected on Valpo’s fourth triple of the period. But WMU ended the first quarter on an 11-2 run to lead 24-20 10 minutes in.
Valpo hit two more 3-pointers in its first three possessions of the second quarter, as Olivia Brown (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids [St. Bonaventure]) and Carie Weinman (Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South [Denver]) hit from deep to tie the game at 26-all.
The Beacons went scoreless for over 8:30 from that point, however, as they didn’t score again until a Weinman layup in the final seconds of the half. WMU scored 14 straight in that stretch as the Broncos led 40-28 at intermission.
White connected on another 3-pointer just over a minute into the third quarter, but that would be the last time the deficit was in single digits, as WMU scored on each of its next eight trips down the floor.
Western Michigan’s lead was 61-43 at the end of the third and reached as much as 23 points in the fourth quarter. Valpo did hold the Broncos scoreless for over a six-minute stretch in the final period, putting together a 10-0 run to close to within 13 late.
Inside the Game
White led the way for Valpo with 16 points, hitting 6-of-10 from the floor, including four 3-pointers to match her career high. She also paced Valpo’s effort on the boards with seven rebounds.
Weinman joined White in double figures, connecting on three triples en route to 12 points.
One game after moving into the program’s all-time top-five for career assists, Frederick dished out nine assists on Monday to set a career high. She had previously registered eight assists five separate times.
Valpo enjoyed a season-best effort from the 3-point line, connecting on 11-of-29 (37.9%) from deep with six different players hitting at least one triple.
The Beacons outshot WMU from the floor, hitting at a 44.7% clip to the Broncos’ 41.1% accuracy. WMU enjoyed a large edge at the foul line, going 16-of-19 as opposed to Valpo’s 1-of-2.
Valpo out-rebounded its opponent for the first time this season, holding a 31-26 advantage on the glass. The Beacons surrendered just six offensive boards to the Broncos, a season low by a Valpo opponent. In fact, Valpo finished the game with a narrow 7-6 edge in second-chance points.
Valpo committed a season-worst 22 turnovers and forced a season-low 10 miscues by WMU. The 12-turnover discrepancy led to a 23-7 advantage for WMU in points off turnovers.
Next Up
Valpo (0-6) faces its fourth MAC opponent of the non-conference slate this coming Sunday with a 1 p.m. CT tipoff from Bowling Green. The game can be seen live on ESPN3.
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