Women's Basketball put together a complete effort in a home win Saturday afternoon.
The Ravens defeated the Mount Mercy University Mustangs 91-71, excelling on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
The (RV) Ravens grabbed control early and never let the Mustangs get comfortable. A 14-2 Ravens run helped the Ravens take a 22-11 lead after one quarter of play. Defense was the name of the game as the Ravens had six steals in the first quarter. They entered Saturday's contest with the 15th-most steals in the NAIA, averaging 11 per game. Against the Mustangs, the Ravens had 17 thefts in the game.
The Ravens defensive pressure continued to pay dividends in the second quarter. By halftime, the home squad had 11 steals and forced 14 Mustang turnovers which led to 20 points for the Ravens. Offensively, the Ravens pounded the paint, scoring 30 points inside to help take a 51-30 lead at the break. Natalie Smaron had 14 points and five rebounds at half. Alleigh Kramer added 9 points in the first and had three steals. Seven different Ravens recorded a steal in the first half.
The Ravens had 13 assists on 20 made field goals in the first half, shooting 44.4% from the floor. In building their lead, the Ravens had 21 more shot attempts than the Mustangs in the first half.
The third quarter was more of the same for the Ravens as they took a 74-47 lead. The Ravens knocked down 3-of-5 3-pointers in the quarter, adding to their inside attack.
Several reserve players saw action in the fourth quarter as 14 players recorded at least 5 minutes of playing time in the game. All but two of those players scored for the Ravens, as well. Smaron led the way with 18 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Kramer finished with a career-high 16 points while also adding five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Twilah Carrasquillo and Skylar Washington each scored 10 points to round out the Ravens in double-digits. Ball movement was strong for the Ravens Saturday as they had 23 assists on their 36 made baskets. The team shot 47.1% from the floor and 34.8% from 3-point range.
The Ravens (16-7, 14-5 Heart) now shift their focus to the Heart of America Conference Tournament. With Saturday's win, the Ravens have locked in the No. 2 seed in the South Division and will play the North No. 3 seed at home in the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
#UnleashGreatness
