Second Quarter Key in Eagles’ Conference Win

David Finney | photo by G-Rox Photography

Waleska, GA - The Eagles were coming off a huge road victory over the weekend when they welcomed the Knights of Kentucky Christian to the Brown Athletic Center on a Monday mid-day tipoff. This would be a key game for Reinhardt because it would allow them to add to the weekend win and it would give them a chance to move up in the conference standings. The Knights bring in a 4-3 conference record and 7-5 overall.

The first quarter started with both teams coming out strong. Brooke Grinstead would score five of the first seven points of the game giving Reinhardt an early four-point lead, but Kentucky Christian would keep it close midway through the first. Abi Haynes would hit a couple of free throws followed by a layup by Katrice Jackson extending the lead to seven with three minutes left in the quarter. Both teams would trade a few baskets before ending the quarter with Reinhardt leading 17-13. In addition, the Eagles would have a crucial injury when Haynes left the game at the end of the quarter with a rolled ankle. The team would now have to face the rest of the game without their team leader and scorer.

Reinhardt would initially respond to Haynes being out of the game right where they left off from the first quarter. Ashley Woodroffe would make an early jumper followed by two free throws by Catherine Shope which put the Eagles up by eight early in the second quarter. Shortly after, Shope would hit a three-pointer and the crowd could feel a run for Reinhardt was about to happen. Tarrah Gibson's layup midway through the second would give the Eagles their largest lead of the game at ten points. Reinhardt would capitalize on the missed shots by Kentucky Christian and soon the lead was up to sixteen when Grinstead made another three-pointer with just over a minute left in the quarter. The Eagles would take a commanding 41-23 halftime lead.

Woodroffe would take Haynes' starting position to begin the third quarter. The team would need her to have a big output on the day in order for the Eagles to get the win. Unfortunately, the third quarter saw a cold streak come to the Eagles. Reinhardt would only have 12 total points compared to 20 for the Knights. This low-scoring output would allow Kentucky Christian right back into a game that was owned by the Eagles. The eighteen-point lead that Reinhardt enjoyed at the half was now down to ten points at the end of the third.

Reinhardt needed some of its leaders to step up in the fourth quarter to secure the much-needed conference win. Kentucky Christian would hit a three-pointer around the seven-minute mark bringing them within six of the Eagles. It was time for the players to step up and it was Symone Williams and Woodroffe who would be the players to do it. Williams and Woodroffe began rebounding, creating turnovers, and scoring to keep the narrow lead. Williams ended the quarter scoring six and Woodruffe had five. The Knights would close the gap to five points, but some missed three-pointers and free throws kept the Eagles in the lead. Williams would hit a series of free throws in the final seconds keeping the game out of reach for Kentucky Christian. Reinhardt would secure the victory 67-59, which takes them into the Christmas break with a two-game win streak.

Woodroffe would lead the Eagles in scoring at 17. Williams and Grinstead would finish with 8 each and Shope had 9 - all of which were in the second quarter.

The team will be on the Christmas break until they return to action on December 30th when they face NCAA Division II opponent - the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega at 3:30 pm.