By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---The No. 10 Express defeated Ohio State University's club team 69-43 in the SHAC Wednesday behind the play of Uniqua Mitchell (MLK/Detroit, Mich.).
The freshman point guard led the team in scoring with 19 and rebounding with 12, while adding four assists, one block and one steal. She went 7-for-10 from the field overall and 5-for-7 from the three point line.
Thanks to Mitchell and others, the Express held a strong advantage on the glass (59 to 38). Karahn Scott (Scott/Toledo, Ohio) and Kieona Foster (Shawnee/Lima, Ohio) had nine rebounds apiece, while Emma-Jean Ricketts (Anthony Wayne/Waterville, Ohio) and Aja Hall (Fostoria/Fostoria, Ohio) had six rebounds apiece.
Foster had a solid all-around game as she finished with four points, a team-high seven assists, a team-high four steals, and two blocks to go with her nine rebounds.
Hall scored 12 points, had two assists, one block and one steal. She now has 775 career points and passed Unique Lane (768) for 11th place on the career scoring list. Next up is Bridget Buss, who had 779 points.
The game marked the first time Hailey Galvan (Archbold/Archbold, Ohio) did not have any blocks in a game this season. The nation's leading shot blocker played 11 minutes.
Owens shot 28-for-72 from the field including a 7-for-17 performance from the three point line, and a 6-for-9 finish from the foul line. Meanwhile, OSU shot 18-for-66 overall, 2-for-18 from three point range and 5-for-9 from the foul line.
The Express had more assists (20 to 13), steals (15 to 11), points in the paint (40 to 22), points off turnovers (13 to 10), second chance points (11 to 5), and bench points (29 to 9). Meanwhile, OSU had fewer turnovers (20 to 24) and more blocks (8 to 5).
The Express outscored OSU Club 33 to 17 in the first half and 36 to 26 in the second half.
Prior to the game, the Express moved up two spots in the NJCAA Division II poll from No. 12 to No. 10. They are now 15-3 overall and 1-0 in the OCCAC. They will take on Sinclair Community College on the road at 1 p.m. Saturday.