By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Five players scored in double figures as the No. 8 Express women's basketball team routed Wayne County Community College in the opening night of the Owens Tip Off Classic.
Emma-Jean Ricketts led the team in scoring with 18 points, while pulling down seven rebounds and grabbing four steals. She wasn't the only one producing, though.
Jordyn Bond had 12 points, seven rebounds (five offensive), three steals, two assists and two blocks, while Mackenzie Heacock had 12 points and five assists. Both players came off the bench.
Another solid bench performance for the Express came from Uniqua Mitchell, who had 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Karahn Scott had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds from the starting lineup. Mitchell's six assists were one off her career high.
Wayne County had two early ties and was within two at the 14:05 mark of the first half, but the Express stretched an 11-9 lead to 29-13 over the next five minutes. They led 52-21 at the half and their largest lead was the final margin.
The Express held advantages in paint points (68-24), points off turnovers (46-12), second chance points (19-15) and rebounds (45-35).
Other top scorers for Owens included: Danielle Bezeau (9 points), Breonna House (8 points), Eboni Adams (7 points) and Bailee Adams (6 points).
Nandi Taylor also had an outstanding all-around performance as she finished with six points, six assists and a team-high seven steals.
Overall, the Express bench scored 56 points - 11 more than the entire Wayne County lineup scored.
The Wildcats were led by Shantell Jones, who had 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
The Express (2-0) will now take on Oakland Community College at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the SHAC. It will be the finale of the Owens Women's Tip Off Classic. Oakland defeated Grand Rapids CC 79-77 earlier today.