Reinhardt Holds Off Koalas in South Carolina

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media
 
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three players hit double figures, led by another double-double from Bethany Headrick with 18 points and 12 rebounds, as the 23^rd-ranked Eagles held off a late run from Columbia (S.C.) to take another victory within the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) on the road, 73-69.

With the win, Reinhardt now sits at 16-2 (13-2 AAC) with five-consecutive triumphs after Catherine Shope (14 points) and Amberlee Zeller also hit the 10-plus-point plateau.

"Really proud of our girls today for pulling this one out," assistant coach Ellie Fruit said. "The one thing anyone can say about our team is they are always working so hard; and today wasn't any different. I thought we shot the ball and finished much better at the rim today and got the looks we wanted to get. We did a better job of cutting to the basket as well. Anytime you are on the road, it's going to be tough, and I thought our girls overcame a lot. Before the game, I told them today is going to be about maintaining our mental toughness, and I thought down the stretch we did a great job with that.

"Offensively, we knocked down some shots; and defensively, we got a few stops and time was then in our favor. Overall, I was really proud of our girls today and happy we are coming home with a victory."

The game would stay close wire-to-wire after the hometown Eagles would jump in front by six points after a highly-contested first quarter, 23-17. The Koalas would close the gap to three tallies at the break – 39-36 – after hitting some shots and forcing a few Reinhardt miscues.

After neither squad was able to get the upper-hand in the third period, the outcome all came down to the last 10 minutes of play with the score, 55-52, in favor of the visitors; but then, things got more interesting midway through the fourth quarter.

With 6:25 remaining in the game, Columbia hit a 2-pointer to get within one at 59-58, but the Eagles came right back compliments of Headrick to lead by three again. However, back came the Koalas with a trey to tie the score, 61-61.

Headrick would answer the call once again with another score, which would be followed by a theft and a 3-pointer by Shope to go up by five points, 66-61, with 4:02 remaining on the clock. The two schools would alternate baskets before Headrick would put the Eagles up by seven – the biggest lead in the second half – with just under three minutes remaining.

From there, Headrick and company would hold off the Koalas as they tried to get closer than three points, but a made free throw by Zeller put the outing to bed late.

Reinhardt shot 31-for-65 (47.7 percent) with six made shots from beyond the arc. The Eagles, however, turned the ball over 22 times to help keep the hosts in the contest.

Three teammates notched seven rebounds apiece, and the bench helped immensely in the outcome with nine points and four rebounds from Ashton Sutton, seven points and seven boards from Brylee Puckett and a half-dozen from Torie Williams.

Defensively, the hometown club held Columbia to 37.3 percent from the floor on 25-of-67 attempts.

The final contest of the six-game road trip is on Jan. 22 at Point (Ga.) at 5:30 p.m. 

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