DENVER, Colo. - The Austin College women's basketball team got off to a slow start at Johnson & Wales but used a huge second quarter to take control on their way to an easy 88-57 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday evening. The 'Roos are now 11-0 overall and 4-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
Johnson & Wales used hot three-point shooting early to take a 12-6 lead, and after maintaining that lead at 18-14 late in the first, Kacie West knocked down a triple at the buzzer to cut it to 18-17 and shift the momentum to the 'Roos. Austin College opened the second quarter with a 14-to-2 run and never looked back, outscoring Johnson & Wales 27-9 in the quarter and heading into the half leading 44-27.
The 'Roos put 29 more points on the board in the third quarter to push the lead to 73-47 going into the fourth quarter and Austin College would cruise from there to remain one of just eight teams in all of NCAA Division III women's basketball with an unbeaten record this season. After shooting just 28.6% in the opening quarter, the 'Roos got red-hot in the second and third quarters as they took control, hitting 62.5% from the field in the second and 68.8% in the third quarter. Overall, the 'Roos finished the game hitting 47.8% from the floor and made 12-of-33 from long range.
West hit 9-of-13 shots, including 6-of-9 from deep on her way to 24 points in just 18 minutes of action to lead the 'Roos. Lindsay Carter came off the bench to add 17 points, making 6-of-8 shots including 3-of-4 from three-point range as 12 different 'Roos got into the scoring column in the win. Ann Savage and Reagan Chiaverini each chipped in eight points, with Savage adding five steals and three assists, and Katy Pool grabbed a team-best six rebounds.
Austin College will be back in Hughey Gym next weekend as they host Schreiner University on Friday and nationally-ranked Trinity University on Saturday.