No. 22 Scots cruise past Stars in home opener
Lyon Athletics
Matthew Jagodzinski
BATESVILLE – Behind a career-high 25 points from Paige Kelley, the 22nd-ranked Lyon College women’s basketball team opened up the home portion of its schedule on Thursday night with a 77-35 demolition of Stephens College in American Midwest Conference play.
The Scots improved to 3-0 (3-0 AMC), while the Stars fell to 0-3 (0-3 AMC).
Lyon got off to a fast start and took a 13-3 lead midway through the first quarter after a three-pointer by Mari-Hanna Newsom. The last time that Stephens was even within single digits came at the 2:14 mark of the first quarter after Maddy Denslow split a pair of free throws. The Scots went on to close the quarter on an 8-0 run and led 21-4.
The Scots took their largest lead of the first half with 1:16 left to go in the second quarter after a bucket by Jade Giron gave Lyon a 39-12 advantage. After a pair of free throws by the Stars, Blysse Harmon scored on a jumper that put the lead back up to 27 before a three-pointer by Stephens put the score at 41-17 in favor of the Scots at the half.
Much like the first quarter, the Scots commanded the third quarter and outscored the Stars, 16-7, in the period. Lyon pushed its lead to as many as 45 late in the fourth quarter and ended with a 77-35 victory.
Harmon and Giron added 13 points each, while Newsom finished with 12 points.
The Scots will close out their brief home stand on Saturday when they welcome William Woods to Becknell Gymnasium for another AMC contest at 1 p.m.