Eagles Fly High in AAC Win Over Rams

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

Photo Courtesy of Greg Spell/G-RoxPhotos.com

WALESKA, Ga. – The newly-22^nd-ranked Reinhardt women's basketball team notched its 20^th victory of the season on Wednesday night after overpowering the Rams of Columbia International (S.C.), 75-58, inside the Brown Athletic Center.

The victory enabled the Eagles (20-2, 17-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) – who received 103 voting points in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll early Wednesday – to keep pace with Bryan (Tenn.) near the top of the league standings.

To view the entire Top 25 from the NAIA, please click here.

"Tonight wasn't pretty but it was a win," head coach Toby Wagoner said. "With numbers a little low tonight, we needed every option we could get. I thought we had some really good basketball moments and we definitely had some moments of not good basketball. We approach every game with specific game-goals to accomplish, both offensively and defensively, with the mindset to win each possession at a time. Our ultimate goal is to get better as a team and win each game. We are thrilled to accomplish this tonight and still have areas to improve.

"February is a short month and we have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball. Our team plays way too hard to trick or treat."

The visitors came prepared in the opening moments of the outing as they calmly took a 4-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. Once Reinhardt saw the ball go in the basket the first time the momentum shifted to the tune of a 16-0 run.

The Rams would finally get on the scoreboard again at the 3:33 mark to get back within 10 points, but the Eagles would allow only one more point the rest of the quarter on the way to a 21-7 lead. The second stanza wouldn't go as smoothly, as the hometown team started to be careless with the ball and put itself in tough situations – resulting in Columbia International outscoring their hosts, 15-12 in the period.

Both offenses would come to play in the third quarter as they would exchange blows to the tune of 21-21 overall, before Reinhardt expanded its lead once again in the final 10 minutes with another 21-point effort; its third in four periods.

The Eagle offense was paced by Ashton Sutton, who was feeling it all night from beyond the arc (6-for-10) en route to a team-high 23 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Symone Williams, who was also 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, hit double digits as well with 12 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. 

Bethany Headrick, while not feeling well, led the squad in boards with eight, while dishing out five assists on the evening.

Additionally, the bench contributed in a big way to help the team shoot 54.7 percent (29-for-53).

The Buffaloes invade Waleska on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. conference matchup.

For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram. 

For more information on Reinhardt Women's Basketball, please click here.