RedStorm runs wild over Ohio Christian

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The final numbers from the University of Rio Grande's win over Ohio Christian University were staggering.
     Even moreso, given that the RedStorm led just 25-21 at the close of the opening quarter.
     Head coach David Smalley's team exploded for 106 points over the final three stanzas en route to a new single-game school record for points and a 131-67 blitz of the visiting Trailblazers, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference women's basketball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, ranked No. 13 in the latest NAIA coaches' Top 25 poll, improved to 20-3 overall and 12-1 in conference play with the win.
     The victory - coupled with Indiana University Southeast's upset win over RSC West Division leader Oakland City University - allowed the RedStorm to regain the best record in conference play and the inside track toward the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament and an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament as the league's regular season champion.
     Ohio Christian slipped to 6-17 overall and 4-9 in the RSC as a result of the loss.
     Rio's 131 points eclipsed the previous school record, which was set in a 129-68 win over Miami University-Hamilton on Dec. 30, 2021, while also tying the fifth-highest single-game total in NAIA history.
     The RedStorm also equaled the single-game school record of 45 assists, which was also established in the 2021 win over Miami-Hamilton.
     And the 69.2 percent shooting mark from the field (54-for-78) was the highest single-game mark in at least 20 seasons and, perhaps, ever - pending even further examination of existing school records.
     Still, the RedStorm led by just four points at the close of the opening period and had just a seven-point advantage, 34-27, after OCU's Rachel Bolyard hit a pair of free throws following a technical foul against Rio senior Ella Skeens (Chillicothe, OH) with 7:12 left in the first half.
     But the Skeens' technical foul didn't serve as a rallying point for the Trailblazers.
     Rather, it made Skeens' teammates mad. And they responded by burying their guests.
     The RedStorm reeled off 18 consecutive points over the next four-plus minutes, upping their lead to 25 points and, essentially, settle the issue once and for all.
     Rio enjoyed the same 25-point cushion at halftime before stretching the lead to 43 by the close of the third quarter and to 64 with the game's final margin of victory.
     The RedStorm shot an amazing 75.7 percent in the second half (28-for-37), including 88.9 percent (16-for-18) in the final stanza.
     Thirteen of the 14 players in uniform scored for Rio, including a half-dozen in double figures.
     Skeens led the way with 22 points, while juniors Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) and Aleea Crites (Parkersburg, WV) tossed in 18 points each.
     Senior Reagan Willingham (Ashville, OH) scored 15 points, including a three-pointer from beyond halfcourt at the close of the third quarter, while sophomore Natalie Kalaydjiev (Vienna, Austria) had 11 points and junior Jocelyn Abraham (Exchange, WV) netted 10.
     Woods and Willingham set new season-high point totals, while Crites and Kalaydjiev equaled season-high outputs.
     Senior Courtney Pifher (New Washington, OH) had a game- and career-high eight rebounds for Rio, while sophomore Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) and junior Lavender Ward (Charleston, WV) handed out nine and eight assists, respectively, and freshman Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) had three steals.
     Ohio Christian finished just 20-for-74 overall (27.0%) and 9-for-35 from three-point range (25.7%), while also ending up on the short end of a 58-23 rebounding tally.
     Haley Cox led the Trailblazers with 22 points, while Bolyard finished with 20.
     Emma Koons had a team-best six rebounds for OCU in a losing cause and Ashley DeWeese had three assists. Both had two steals.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Tuesday night when it hosts Point Park University.
     Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.