WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The No. 25 Spring Arbor University women's basketball team opened the Patriot Classic with an 84-66 road victory over the University of the Cumberlands on Thursday at the Rollins Center.
The Cougars improved to 4-0, while the Patriots, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 poll, fell to 3-2.
Megan Zeitz scored a career-high 30 points on 9-of-16 shooting and made a career-best five 3-pointers in eight attempts. She added five rebounds, four assists and four steals without committing a turnover.
Madison Sonsini scored a career-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
Haven Chapman added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and
Ashley Weller finished with 11 points.
Rachel Reichard contributed six points and seven rebounds off the bench, while
Aubrey Crockett matched Zeitz with four steals.
Spring Arbor scored the game's first seven points and led 16-10 after one quarter. The Cougars closed the second quarter on a 7-0 run, with
Nancy Ruholl scoring four points in the final two minutes to help SAU take a 37-23 lead into halftime.
The Cougars carried a 59-44 advantage into the fourth quarter. After Cumberlands pulled within 10 at 70-60, Zeitz hit a pair of 3-pointers around two Weller layups in a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 80-62 with 2:20 remaining.
Spring Arbor shot 46.7 percent from the field and held Cumberlands to 36.5 percent. The Cougars forced 21 turnovers, collected 13 steals and outscored the Patriots 38-18 in the paint. Abby Varney led Cumberlands with 18 points.
Spring Arbor wraps up the Patriot Classic against No. 6 Lindsey Wilson University on Friday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m.
