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FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- University of Saint Francis center
Chivonn Keppeler moved up to No. 3 on the Lady Cougars'
career scoring list and dispatched Huntington University
75-52 to sweep the season series on Wednesday night.
USF, which
was moved up to No. 6 from No. 7 in the NAIA Top 25 ratings
announced earlier in the day, led from start to finish with
just one tie to win for the 23rd time at home in the last 24
games. USF improved to 19-5 overall, 8-2 in Mid-Central
Conference play.
Keppeler
scored USF's first six points of the game pushing her career
total to 1,656 points to pass Megan Eckert, who finished
with 1,654 points (1999-03). The senior from Edgerton, Ohio,
finished with 16 points. Keppeler scored soon after the tip
to open the half and the Lady Cougars never trailed in the
first half though HU did tie the game at 6. USF led by as
many as 10 points on four occasions -- 18-8, 20-10, 28-18 at
32-22 at the half.
Keppeler now
has 1,666 career points. Her teammates provided solid
support in the winning effort, most notably Tara Dice with
16, Jenny Richards with 14 off the bench and Jessica
Hathaway, who finished with a double-double, her second this
season -- 10 boards and 10 points.
Amy Berry,
the No. 3 scorer in the MCC, was the only Forester in double
figures with 24 points.
HU, which
had won its last three games, drew within 60-51 with 4:19 to
play in the second half, but USF left no doubt about the 'W'
with a 15-1 closing. The Lady Cougars shot a blistering 78
percent in the final 20 minutes.
"Chevy came
out strong to start the game, she's so hard to match up with
for them, and it opened up everybody else," USF coach Gary
Andrews said. "That's quite an accomplishment and we're
pleased for her contributions.
"We executed
some things really well tonight, especially the last four
minutes when we stopped turning the ball over. We played
pretty good defense, especially in the first half."
USF resumes play
on Saturday back at Hutzell Athletic Center against Grace
College starting at 1 p.m.
--
GO USF -- |
