SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 25 ranked Spring Arbor University women's basketball team used a 53-30 rebounding advantage and three double-figure scorers to defeat Indiana University Northwest 83-60 on Saturday at American 1 Credit Union Arena.
The Cougars improved to 3-0 with their third consecutive victory by more than 20 points. IU Northwest dropped to 0-2.
Megan Zeitz led Spring Arbor with 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting, adding four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Ashley Weller scored 15 points while shooting 6-for-9 from the field, and
Haven Chapman contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
Madison Sonsini pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds and added six points off the bench.
Aubrey Crockett finished with five rebounds, four assists and a career-best four steals, while
Rielyn Goodwin collected three steals and a block.
Spring Arbor led 18-12 after the opening quarter and created separation in the second. After the RedHawks trimmed the margin to 25-20, Weller scored consecutive baskets to begin an 8-0 Cougar run. SAU carried a 41-26 advantage into halftime.
The Cougars took control early in the third quarter. Following an IU Northwest basket, Spring Arbor scored 15 unanswered points to stretch its lead to 56-28. Zeitz contributed seven points during the run, including a 3-pointer, while Weller added four.
SAU led 63-42 entering the fourth quarter and maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way.
Spring Arbor grabbed 22 offensive rebounds and finished with a 15-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Cougars also outscored the RedHawks 42-26 in the paint and forced 26 turnovers, collecting 16 steals.
Jordan Steele led IU Northwest with 17 points, followed by Nia Allen with 14 and Aniyah Hinton-Henry with 11.
Spring Arbor travels to Williamsburg, Kentucky, to face the University of the Cumberlands on Thursday, Nov. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
