By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Danielle Bezeau had a record-breaking night, while Emma-Jean Ricketts poured in 20 points to help the Express women's basketball team rout Cuyahoga Community College 89-42 in the SHAC tonight.
Bezeau only had seven points, but had team-highs in rebounds (12), assists (14) and steals (4). Her 14 assists broke Dawn Spencer's 15-year-old single game record of 13. The final assist came in the final minute on a jumper off the glass from Bailee Adams.
Meanwhile, Ricketts had a solid night (8-for-13 overall from the field) for a team-high in scoring. She added four rebounds in 26 minutes.
The Challengers took their only lead on the game's opening basket at 2-0 before Ricketts tied it up with a jumper. Following that, Mackenzie Heacock hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Express an 8-4 lead. After that, Jordyn Bond hit a jumper and Heacock hit another three and the Express rolled.
The closest the Challengers got after that was 15-11 with 11:38 left, but the Express went on a 14-2 run to take a 29-13 lead with 4:11 left in the half. The Express took a 40-20 lead into the break.
The Express then led 52-29 with 15:38 left before going on an 11-3 run to take a 63-32 lead with 8:34 left.
Heacock finished second on the team in scoring with 17 points, while adding three assists, two rebounds and two steals.
Uniqua Mitchell, in her second game back after being out since Dec. 20, produced a double-double. She had 12 points, 11 rebounds (seven offensive), six assists and two steals. Her assist total was second on the team behind Bezeau.
Karahn Scott was the fourth player in double figure scoring as she had 10 points, 12 rebounds and only one turnover. It was her fourth straight double-double.
As a team, the Express fell just one 3-point attempt away from tying the single game record for most attempts. They totaled 34-for-86 from the field overall, 12-for-33 from 3-point range and 9-for-24 from the foul line.
On the glass, the Express vastly outperformed the Challengers - as shown by their 67-40 advantage overall, which included a 30-11 advantage on the offensive glass.
Scott and Mitchell each tied for the team-high in offensive rebounds (seven each).
Colleen Huberty was the lone player in double figures for Cuyahoga as she had 15 points and seven rebounds. Brittany Flannigan and Shayla Miller each added a team-high nine rebounds.
Notes
The Express are now 18-7 overall and 5-2 in the OCCAC. They have won two in a row and four of their last five.
The next game for the Express will be on the road Saturday in Dayton, OH against Sinclair Community College beginning at 2 p.m.
Ricketts eclipsed the 400 point mark in scoring for this year tonight. She now has 822 career points and moved into 10th place in on the career scoring list. She passed Spencer (818 points) to move up from 11th place.
Heacock now has 518 career points. She is on the verge of breaking into the top 30.
Mitchell now has 189 points in 17 games (11.1/game) this year and 572 for her career, which puts her in the top 30 in career scoring.
Aside from scoring, Scott eclipsed the 400 career rebound mark tonight. She ended the game tonight with 411. She also now has 431 career points.
