ADRIAN, Mich. – Peyton Banks (Wadsworth, Ohio) registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Saints cruised to a comfortable 73-47 win over UNOH on Friday evening.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Siena Heights 73, UNOH 47
Location: Adrian, Mich. (SHU Fieldhouse)
Records: Siena Heights (6-2, 3-1 WHAC), UNOH (5-5, 2-5 WHAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Racer scored the first basket of the contest when Jada Haines took the opening tip to the paint and made a layup. The Saints would respond with three straight shots from three-point range to hop out to a 9-2 lead. Sha'kyia Parker (Grand Rapids, Mich.) hit the opening three, Banks drilled the second, and Shelby Morrow (Flushing, Mich.) drained the third. After two consecutive baskets by UNOH cut the SHU lead to 9-6, Allye Minor (Bryan, Ohio) made a three to extend the lead to 12-6 with 5:34 left in the first quarter. The Racers got into foul trouble late in the quarter and Siena used its opportunities at the line to build an 18-10 lead with just over two minutes left in the opening period. Parker made another shot from deep to give the Saints their first double-digit advantage of the game, 21-10. Parker struck again from beyond the arc with just five seconds remaining to push the SHU edge to 25-10.
The Saints maintained their lead in the second quarter eventually rising to a 16-point margin, 35-19, at the 5:03 mark of the second period. The advantage would hover around that mark for the remainder of the half. Siena Heights took a 42-28 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Racers rallied a bit in the third quarter as they were able to cut the Siena Heights lead to single digits, 50-41, with 2:32 left in the period. Savanah Gibson () made a layup that put the Saints ahead by 11, 54-43. A lead that would carry into the final period of the contest.
Siena Heights pushed the advantage at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run that grew the lead to 18 points, 63-45, with 7:14 left in regulation. The lead continued to grow through the remainder of regulation. Marcia Hawkins-Day (Grand Rapids, Mich.) made a jumper with four ticks left on the clock that gave the Saints their largest, and final, lead of the game at 73-47.
TOP SAINTS
• Banks finished 5-12 from the floor, 3-4 from three, and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line to lead the Saints in the win.
• Parker finished 6-13 shooting for 15 points and six rebounds.
• Kelsey Wyman (Blissfield, Mich.) also totaled 15 points in the contest.
THE OPPOSITION
• Jada Haines led the Racers with 15 points.
• Tya Bell and Kalea Kruser tied for a team-high eight rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Saint will stay home for a third-straight WHAC game on Sunday afternoon when they host Lawrence Tech at 4:30 p.m., EST.
