HOUSTON – Junior guard
Amanda Johnson and junior center
Veronika Kirienko post double-doubles in HBU women's basketball's win against Paul Quinn Wednesday night at Sharp Gym.
Johnson led the way for the Huskies (3-4). She shot 57.1 percent from the field, put up 28 points, brought down a career-high 11 rebounds, and had five assists. Kirienko shot 81.8 percent from the floor, scoring for a career-high 18 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and had three blocks. Junior guard
Sophie Taylor and freshman guard
Megan Valdez-Crader each contributed seven points, while sophomore guard
Britta Daub handed out a career-high nine assists and had five rebounds.
"It's been an interesting few days but I'm pleased our kids managed to stay focused and pull out the win," said head coach
Donna Finnie. "I was really pleased with the contribution of
Blair Gillard and
Kiara Calloway tonight. They have shown incredible school spirit in stepping up and helping us out."
The Lady Tigers (3-5) were led by Alexis Johnson, who shot 55.5 percent from the floor and went 5-of-7 from the 3-point line, scoring 15 points. Destinee Norman shot 33.3 percent from the field, putting up 10 points and brought down seven rebounds. Te'Ana Washington added nine points and seven rebounds.
HBU shot 45.7 percent from the field, 2-of-8 from the 3-point line, and 8-of-12 from behind the line. Paul Quinn shot 28.8 percent from the field, went 5-of-19 from 3-point range, and 11-of-18 from the free-throw line. The Huskies dominated in the paint, 52-24 and outrebounded the Lady Tigers 50-35.
The Lady Tigers led early in first quarter, until a pair of layups by Johnson and a jumper by Daub put the Huskies past Paul Quinn, 10-5. The Lady Tigers answered back cutting the lead to only three, but back-to-back buckets by Kirienko would spark a 12-3 run to end the first, 24-10. The Huskies out-scored the Lady Tigers 16-8 in the second, keyed by Johnson, Gwarda, and Taylor each scoring four points. HBU ended the half with a 22-point advantage, 40-18.
The Huskies led by as many as 24 points, after a layup by senior forward
Blair Gillard early in the third quarter, but the Lady Tigers would answer back with a 19-10 run. Gwarda and Johnson accounted for the last points scored in the third giving HBU a 56-37 lead going into the fourth. Back-to-back three pointers by Paul Quinn were key in a nine point run that ended with a six-point run by the Huskies. Johnson and Kirienko each put up eight points, while Valdez-Crader added two. The Lady Tigers put up 17 points bringing the final score, 74-54.
HBU will battle Huston-Tillotson at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at Sharp Gym. They will then head to Louisiana for a two-game swing, starting with ULM on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.
