Crusaders improve Winning Streak to 5 in Route on Thursday
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas women's basketball team (5-1) enjoyed a season-high in scoring along with several team bests in different categories en route to an 83-23 victory on Thursday over Southwestern Adventist University. The Crusaders held their opposition to single-digits in all four quarters, while taking their fifth straight win and 17th over SW' Adventist. Dallas stretches its winning streak to the longest since taking six in row during the 2013-14 campaign from November 23-December 20.
NOTABLES
- Dallas posted season bests in field goals (33), offensive rebounds (25), total rebounds (53), steals (18), assists (28) and forced turnovers (27).
- Seana Stoia (Tulsa, Okla.) notched her third double-double in as many games with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Her four assists were a season-high.
- Michelle DeCoud (Monument, Colo.) poured a game-high 16 points and added seven boards (5 on the offensive glass). Jackie Landry (Anaheim, Calif.) also grabbed seven boards for a personal most.
- Holly Tonry (Seattle, Wash.) dished seven assists. She led a quintet of players with at least three passes that led to field goals.
- Nerissa Periola (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Stoia combined for all 12 made UD free throws. Stoia was 100 percent (7-7) for the third game this year.
- Helen Onyenso (Oak Park, Ill.) led the bench with nine points and all three rebounds came on the offensive side. Celsi Caraway (Arlington, Texas) swiped a team-high and personal best five steals.
- The 23 points allowed is the lowest since the Crusaders topped MT Mary's College 96-13 on January 27, 2006. The only other time UD hled an opponent under 30 points based on digital archives dating to 2003-04 was College of New Rochell in 79-23 fashion (February 7, 2004).
- Dallas cracked 80 points for the first time since last year. It only broke 80 points once in an 87-67 triumph at home verses Centenary College (Jan. 16).
- The Knights were led offensively by Navimayr Lopez with nine points. They shot 24.4 percent from the floor and 1-for-16 (6.3 percent) from three. Only the five starters found the scoring column in the matchup.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a missed jumper by the Crusaders in the game's first possession, everything fell for the home side as the next nine field goals were made through halfway in the first quarter. Stoia started the hot shooting the first basket. The reigning Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Player of the Week was found and converted the three-point play for an early advantage never surrendered. The Knights countered with a layup on the next shot by Lopez that nipped things at one. However a 17-0 run on the strength of perfect shooting that included eight points from DeCoud opened a 20-2 lead. Lopez connected on a three-pointer to end unanswered streak, but Dallas rattled the final eight points for a 28-5 result at the first break.
The Navy and White kept the momentum throughout the contest. In the second quarter, 12-of-14 points in over a five-minute span lifted the Crusaders up 40-9. Stoia scored four points and DeCoud had a pair of inside field goals help during the spurt. Periola rattled all five of her free throws within the last 2:22 before intermission. Dallas broke a season-high 50 points at that juncture.
In the third quarter, Dallas hit the most treys of the game with a trio total. All of them occurred on 3-of-4 made field goals and within a two-minute span that started at 3:43 remaining. Onyenso stepped back for her first career made three. After a Caraway steal and fastbreak layup, Shelby Waldron (Banning, Calif.) and Lindsey Gendron (Houston, Texas) each knocked down a triple. The duo both chipped in seven points apiece, as Waldron finished with five of hers in the third as a jumper capped the scoring that frame.
The Crusaders stretched their advantage to as many as 62 on the evening, with Landry's mid-range jumper marking the distance at 2:49 in the fourth. The reserves netted 33 of their 41 total points.
Dallas took advantage of scoring 40 points off turnovers and 21 second chance points. The post was friendly for the Crusaders too with a 46-8 advantage on SW' Adventist.
UP NEXT
Dallas will take nearly a week break before heading up the road for another non-NCAA opponent in Dallas Christian College. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.