Rio women blast mistake-prone Warriors

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The crux of the University of Rio Grande's meeting with Rochester Christian (Mich.) University on Saturday afternoon was rather simple.
     The 10th-ranked RedStorm made their guests pay dearly for each and every mistake they made.
     The Warriors failed to return the favor.
     Rio Grande grabbed a double-digit first quarter lead and then settled the issue once and for all with a dominating second quarter performance, cruising to a 107-67 victory in non-conference women's basketball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Head coach David Smalley collected the 680th win of his 33-year coaching career as the RedStorm improved to 4-0 overall.
     Rochester Christian slipped to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in four all-time meetings with Rio Grande.
     The Warriors were their own worst enemy for most of the day, committing 31 turnovers which the RedStorm transformed into 45 points.
     Rio Grande had 22 turnovers of its own, but RCU only managed eight points off the miscues.
     The RedStorm jumped to a 23-12 lead after one quarter, but it was a 29-9 advantage in the second stanza which put the win on ice.
     Rio scored the first 11 points of the quarter and five of the Warriors' nine points didn't come until the final 90 seconds of the period.
     Senior Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH), who has won each of the two River States Conference Offensive Player of the Week awards this season, made an argument to make it three straight honors with a game-high 28 points and three steals to lead five double-digit scorers for the victors. She also had five assists.
     Fellow senior Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) added a season-best 23 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort, while junior Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) had 15 points and three steals, senior Harlei Antritt (Newark, OH) had a season-high 14 points and five rebounds and freshman Payton Johnson (Peebles, OH) equaled a career-high by going 4-for-4 overall, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, and netting 13 points.
     Freshman Jasmine Jordan (Ashland, KY) equaled a career-high with 13 rebounds in the victory, while seniors Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) and Marina Garcia Perez (Leon, Spain) handed out seven assists each and freshman Josie Graves (Barboursville, OH) collected three steals of her own.
     Rio Grande shot 45.5 percent overall (35-for-77), including a season-high nine three-pointers, while also finishing 28-for-33 at the foul line (84.8%).
     The RedStorm also enjoyed a commanding 53-33 edge in rebounding.
     Rochester Christian shot a respectable 43.5 percent overall (27-for-62), but was just 3-for-17 from distance (17.6%) and 10-for-19 at the charity stripe (52.6%).
     Jacey Somers tossed in a season-high 22 points and had three steals to lead the Warriors, while Tambre Williams had a career-best 16 points and 12 rebounds.
     Samone Andrews added six assists and Melanie Moore had three blocked shots in a losing cause.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Friday night when it hosts Governors State (Ill.) in the opening round of the Bevo Francis Invitational.
     Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.