Rio women rout mistake-prone Eagles

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - While the University of Rio Grande currently leads the NAIA nationally at more than 101 points per game, it was the RedStorm's defensive play which fueled the high octane offense against Midway University on Tuesday night.
     Head coach David Smalley's squad turned 27 turnovers by the Eagles into 50 points and overwhelmed their guests in the second half for an eventual 103-66 win in River States Conference women's basketball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, which was ranked No. 14 in the most recent NAIA coaches' Top 25 poll, improved to 14-4 overall and 7-0 in league play as a result of the victory - its 11th in 12 all-time meetings with Midway.
     The Eagles, who fell to the RedStorm in each of the last RSC Tournament championship games, dropped to 7-10 overall and 3-4 in the RSC with the loss.
     Despite the lopsided final score, the game featured seven ties and nine lead changes thanks to a see-saw first half.
     Midway led by as many as six points, 39-33, after a bucket by Trinity Johnson with 3:11 left before halftime, but the RedStorm closed the half with a 10-2 run for a 43-41 lead at the break.
     The Eagles still found themselves within earshot after Jaiden Douthit hit one of two free throws to make it 51-48 with 6:32 remaining in the third quarter, but things turned ugly for the visitors from that point on.
     Rio Grande closed the game on a 46-18 run and outscored Midway 60-25 over the course of the final two quarters. Its largest lead of the night came with the game's final margin of victory.
     The Eagles had 16 of their turnovers in the second half, which led directly to 31 points for the RedStorm.
     Rio Grande also shutdown Midway's Serenti Webb over the final two quarters after she scored 18 of her team-high 19 points in the first half. After going 9-for-12 from the field in the first half, she was 0-for-2 over the final two periods.
     Senior Reagan Willingham (Ashville, OH) led five double-digit scorers for the RedStorm with 20 points, while sophomore Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) had 13 points and the trio of senior Lavender Ward (Charleston, WV) and juniors Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) and Harlei Antritt (Newark, OH) contributed 12 points each.
     Grinstead also had a team-high four steals and three blocked shots, while Ward also had six rebounds and four steals.
     Antritt and senior Aleea Crites (Parkersburg, WV) also had six rebounds each and junior Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) handed out 10 assists for the second straight game.
     Rio Grande finished 38-for-74 from the floor (51.4%), including 23-for-39 (59.0%) in the second half.
     The RedStorm also went 22-for-27 at the foul line (81.5%) and finished with a 43-40 edge in rebounding.
     Midway finished 26-for-66 overall (39.4%), but was just 7-for-27 after halftime (25.9%).
     In addition to Webb, the Eagles also had Jermyra Christian (13 pts.) and Johnson (11 pts.) reach double figures in scoring. Webb also had a game-high seven rebounds.
Douthit added five assists and Alyssa Hitch had three steals in the loss for Midway.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Saturday at Indiana University Southeast.
     Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. in New Albany, Ind.