Women's Basketball opened the 2024-25 season with a convincing home win Wednesday night.

The (RV) Ravens defeated the University of Saint Mary Spires, 69-51, controlling the game from the opening minutes.

The Ravens got off to a great start in the opening quarter, racing out to a 15-1 lead while holding the Spires without a field goal in the first 8 minutes. The visitors started to find their footing towards the end of the quarter, though, and the Ravens lead was 19-9 after 10 minutes of play.

The Ravens lead was 8 points heading into halftime, 32-24, after a close second quarter.

The Spires got within 6 points midway through the third quarter, but the Ravens turned things up, going on an 8-0 run to push their lead to 43-29 two minutes later.

The Ravens had a 49-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter and pushed their lead to as many as 20 points. The Ravens struggled from the line for most of the night, shooting just 8-of-17 from the stripe through three quarters, but closed out the game well by making 9-12 from the free throw line in the final 10 minutes to help salt away the win.

It was a balanced attack for the Ravens as they had five different players reach double-figures. Kennedy Nicholson, Riley Rottinghaus, Lauryn Dubbert and Jennifer Jacobs all scored 12 points, each, and Riley Bruggeman added 10 points. Dubbert had 11 rebounds and Bruggeman added 10 boards as both players finished the game with a double-double. Scoring inside was key for the Ravens as they out-scored the Spires 38-18 in the paint and held Saint Mary to 7-33 shooting from the 3-point line. The Ravens also forced 22 turnovers as Nicholson led the team with 4 steals.

The win avenges last season's loss exactly a year ago in Leavenworth, a game the Ravens lost to the Spires by 13 points.

The Ravens (1-0) will have another chance to get payback on a loss from last season as they host Morningside University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 in Ralph Nolan Gym.