Women's Basketball Advances to KCAC Championship Game After Win Over Sterling

Sterling, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Women's Basketball team played against Sterling College tonight for Round 2 of the KCAC Tournament, resulting in a 78-66 win. The Spires improved their overall record to 20-10, the best single-season record in school history.

After Sterling got out to an early lead, Alanis Delgado scored seven out of the first nine points for the Spires and had thirteen total points in the first quarter. The Warriors ended the quarter on a run to take a 25-18 lead. After Paige Pendley cut into the Warrior lead with a pair of free throws, USM went on a 7-0 run to take a 32-29 lead. With 34 seconds left in the half, Delgado buried another three-pointer as the Spires took a 39-35 lead heading into halftime.

The second half started with the Spires extending their lead as Jerrica Johnson and Tanea Sims hit big shots to take a 46-39 lead. The Warriors struggled to get anything going offensively as the Saint Mary defense was unrelenting. The Spires eventually took a 62-49 lead, heading into the fourth quarter. The momentum remained with the Spires as the team got out to a 68-49 lead to start the quarter. Midway through the quarter, the Warriors cut the Spire lead to 68-58, but Saint Mary continued with the offensive production, never letting the Warriors make it close. Free throws and defense propelled the Spires to the big 78-66 upset win over the top-seeded Warriors. Delgado led the team with a whopping 31 points and five rebounds on the night.

Up Next

The Spires advance to the KCAC Tournament Championship Round as they will take on the Friends Falcons at 8 p.m. on Monday at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.