By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Kalamazoo, Mich.---LaKayra Carlisle (Pershing/Detroit, Mich.) had a double-double through just one half while leading the No. 16 Owens Community College women's basketball team past Schoolcraft College 75-55 in the Turkey Shoot Out opener tonight.

Carlisle, who led three players in double figures for Owens, finished with team-highs in points (17) and rebounds (14). Sierra Harley (Africentric/Columbus, Ohio) added 16 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block, while Ashley Tunstall (Huber Heights Wayne/Dayton, Ohio) nearly also had a double-double with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The game itself saw an odd first half offensively for Owens. They came out on fire to take a 10-2 lead in just under three minutes. During that span, Carlisle and Tunstall each had five points on a lay-up and a 3-pointer each.

Following that, the Owens offense went on a dry spell as they didn't score their 20th point until 7:35 left in the half, although they still held a six point lead at that mark.

Towards the end of the half, however, an offensive outburst blew the game open. With Owens holding a slim 22-18 lead with 5:08 left, Demy Whitaker (Notre Dame Academy/Toledo, Ohio) drilled a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run. Despite a 3-pointer at the end of the half for Schoolcraft, Owens took a 35-23 lead into the break.

Owens then remained in control in the second half, while almost pushing the lead to 30 a few times. Harley hit three straight field goals midway through the half to give her team a 26 point lead with 10:41 left. Later, with just under five minutes left, Whitaker stole the ball and dished to Zhana Randolph (Rochester/Rochester Hills, Mich.), who converted a lay-up for a game-high 28 point lead.

Owens never led by fewer than 20 over the game's final 14 minutes.

Carlisle and Harley combined to shoot 15-for-26 from the field, including a 4-for-5 combined finish from 3-point range. 

T'era Nesbitt led Schoolcraft (4-3) with 18 points and seven rebounds. Ashley Bland added 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Owens is now 7-1 and are the winners of seven straight heading into its showdown with No. 2 Kalamazoo Valley Community College at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Kalamazoo Valley will enter the game with a 6-0 record.

Notes

Randolph, who missed the last six games, returned to action for the first time since Oct. 31. She provided nine points off the bench in 21 minutes.