Saints overwhelm Wolves, 73-53

Saint Martin’s bench paces first half run during women’s basketball victory.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Saint Martin’s got a first half spark from its bench and then cruised to a 73-53 women’s basketball victory over Western Oregon on Saturday night at the Physical Education Building.

The victory improved SMU’s record to 14-5 overall and to 7-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. It was the fourth consecutive win for the Saints, who are ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Division II west region poll. Western Oregon dropped to 5-14 on the season and to 1-9 in the GNAC.

Western Oregon jumped out to 9-4 lead, thanks in part to five quick points by Katie Torland. But Saint Martin’s answered with a 14-2 run, thanks to bench play from Krissy Bassett and Roni Jo Mielke. Both players had eight points during a stretch where the visitors outscored the Wolves 32-8. SMU went into the locker room with a 36-17 lead at intermission.

Saint Martin’s led by as many as 25 points in the second half before settling for the 20-point final victory margin.

SMU had four players in double figures, led by Bassett’s 13 points. Sade Smith added 12, while Kassie Ludeman and Mielke finished with 10. Point guard Jamey Gelhar had seven points, six rebounds and five assists. The Saints shot 53 percent from the field in the game and had 16 assists on the night.

Western Oregon was led by Leada Berkey’s 14 points, and Sara Zahler was also in double figures with 10 points. Whitney Chase had seven points and nine rebounds, but the Wolves shot just 35 percent from the field, including 1-of-14 from three-point range. They also hit just 14 of 25 shots from the free throw line.

The Wolves will remain home next week, taking on No. 8 nationally ranked Alaska Anchorage on Thursday and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday.

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