SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's basketball team opened the season with an 87-44 victory over Cleary University on Thursday evening at American 1 Credit Union Arena.
The No. 25-ranked Cougars turned 33 Cleary turnovers into 43 points and finished with 25 steals. Five players scored in double figures as SAU moved to 1-0.
Haven Chapman led the Cougars with 14 points on 7-for-13 shooting.
Ashley Weller and
Megan Zeitz added 11 points apiece, while
Rielyn Goodwin and
Nancy Ruholl each contributed 10.
Weller scored eight points in the opening quarter, helping Spring Arbor build a 20-9 advantage. The Cougars carried a 40-25 lead into halftime before pulling away with a 25-4 third quarter. SAU scored the first nine points of the second half and held Cleary to two field goals in the period to take a 65-29 lead into the fourth.
Zeitz led the defensive effort with six steals to go with four rebounds and four assists. Weller matched her career high with five steals and added three assists. Goodwin finished with a team-high six assists and four steals, while
Aubrey Crockett collected three steals and four rebounds.
Ruholl knocked down two 3-pointers and scored her 10 points in eight minutes off the bench.
Madison Sonsini added eight points, five rebounds and two blocks, while
Kami Boonstra scored a career-high eight points on 4-for-6 shooting. SAU's reserves combined for 41 points.
Spring Arbor shot 51.4 percent from the field and held Cleary to 32.6 percent. The Cougars also finished with a 56-20 advantage in points in the paint and a 20-2 edge in fast-break points.
Maddux Locke and Reese Williams led Cleary with 11 points each.
Spring Arbor travels to Indiana University Southeast on Wednesday, Oct. 28 for a 6 p.m. tipoff in New Albany, Indiana.
