ALAMOSA, Colo. - With the help of a 54.5% shooting performance from three-point range, the Adams State Women's Basketball team was dominant in its exhibition game against Northern New Mexico College on Friday night in Plachy Hall Gym. The Grizzlies down the Eagles 72-41 to walk away on top.
A big part of the Grizzlies solid shooting performance came thanks in part to the hot hand of
Stephanie Ruiz who shot of 7-of-9 from beyond the arc to rack up a game-high 21 points. Every made shot she had on the evening came from deep as she finished 7-of-13 for the Grizzlies in just over 33 minutes of play.
The Grizzlies got out to a fast start as Head Coach
Jaime Green made sure her team dictated the tempo all night. The Grizzlies never trailed in the game and a 9-0 run to start the game put them in the driver's seat right away. The Eagles (1-6) did not find themselves on the board until midway through the opening frame as a deep triple brought the score to 9-3 with 4:5- to play in the first quarter.
Adams State was a force on both sides of the ball in the first 10 minutes of action as the team held Northern New Mexico to just nine first quarter points and scored 19 to hold a 10 point lead going into the second. The Eagles looked to answer early in the second quarter with a 5-0 run that brought them within five of the home team, 19-15. Despite the early charge, it was not enough as Adams State put together another 19 point quarter to maintain a double-figure lead.Â
Following the 5-0 run by the Eagles, the Grizzlies responded with a 9-0 run with all nine points coming on made shots from beyond the arc.
Marshell Hollins got the run started with a deep triple and Ruiz provided the next two to give the Grizzlies a 28-14 lead with 4:34 to play in the first half. The Eagles tried to respond but never got the game back within single digits the rest of the half.
Danielle Jimenez gave Adams State its largest lead of the first half with a three pointer at 1:15 mark that put the home team up 16, 38-22. The first half was all Adams State as the team shot 55.6% from the floor, 63.6% from three-point range, and owned the points in the paint battle 16-8. The only edge the Eagles had came from their bench scoring as tey outscored the Grizzlies 17-9 in the first 20 minutes of action.
The Eagles made an early push yet again to start the second half with a 10-5 run that brought them within 11 of the Grizzlies. Trailing 43-32, the visitors had some momentum in their favor but it was short lived as an 8-2 run by the Grizzlies gave them a commanding lead yet again that kept any hopes of a comeback at bay. Ruiz was once again a catalyst in the run as she nailed a dagger from three-point range to close out the run and gave the Grizzlies a 51-34 lead wth 2:46 play in the third.
A layup by Madision Merschel in the closing second of third quarter gave Adams State a 21-point lead, 59-38, going into the fourth as the Grizzlies cruised to the win. Playing well on both sides of the ball, Adams State was dominant defensively in the game's final frame, allowing just three points by the visitors.
Brooke Neal got the final quarter started with an early layup.
Neal's score was part of a 16-0 run by the Grizzlies that started in the third quarter and stretched throughout much of the fourth quarter. Following the early score from Neal, Ruiz hit back-to-back triples to give a 29-point advantage. A foul form the Eagles put Neal at the line as she went 2-of-2 to give the Grizzlies largest lead of 31 points, 69-38. The only points for the Eagles in the fourth came at 1:21 mark on a made three pointer.
Ruiz' 21 points were a game-high and she also added four assists and pulled in five rebounds on the night to lead Adams State.
Maddie Dorris was the only other double figurer scorer with 11 points 5-of-6 shooting.
Ki'asha Harris chipped in eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Neal and Hollins each added seven points, while Neal had a team-high seven boards. Hollins led the way in assists with five.
Kayla Salazar led the way for Northern New Mexico with 13 points on a 5-of-13 shooting performance. Erykah Tallman was right behind her with 11 points to round out the double-digit scoring efforts for the Eagles. Tallman and Holly Woodbury both led the way in rebounding with seven apiece.Â
The Grizzlies will have some time off before returning the court. Their next game is set for Tuesday, Nov. 27 as they head to St. Joseph, Mo. to take on Missouri Western. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m.
