DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team dominated Lindenwood, 91-73, in its 2023-24 home opener Sunday at UD Arena. The team was led junior Arianna Smith with the 16-point, 15-rebound double-double.

The Flyers (1-1) led from beginning to end as they turned in a very impressive performance against the Lions (0-2). Other key contributors included senior Anyssa Jones who paced the team with 17 points and grad student Mariah Perez who went 6-of-7 from the field for 14 points to go with eight rebounds. As a team, the Flyers recorded 44 rebounds, 30 of which came on the defensive end, as well as 19 assists. Defensively, the Flyers forced 17 turnovers which included six steals and two blocks.

KEY MOMENT
2nd quarter– Dayton went on an 8-0 run to increase the lead to 11, 31-20, allowing the Flyers to put the game out of reach.

GAME BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: Dayton 23, Lindenwood 14
• Perez got the Flyers scoring started by making a layup at the 8:15 mark.
• The Flyers held a 9-3 advantage at the 5:38 mark after making four-consecutive field goals.
• Sophomore Nayo Lear took the ball coast to coast and converted a layup to increase the Flyers' lead to 11-3.
• At the media timeout, the Flyers had held the Lions scoreless for 2:16.
• Smith successfully converted her free throw attempt after being fouled on a made basket to increase the Dayton lead to 11 with four minutes left in the quarter.
• Senior Destiny Bohanon converted a layup in transition with 1:54 remaining to put the Flyers back up by eight and the lead was back to double digits as Smith got a bucket with just over a minute left.
• Smith paced the Flyers in the first quarter with seven points and three rebounds.
• The Flyers controlled the boards in the first period recording 12 team rebounds, seven of which came on the defensive end.

2nd Quarter: Dayton 47, Lindenwood 34
• Lindenwood got its second-quarter scoring started by hitting a three 40 seconds in to cut the Dayton lead to six. The Lions capitalized on a Flyer turnover, hitting another triple to make it a one-possession game.
• Perez grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for a layup to push the lead to five with 7:42 left to play in the half.
• The Flyer lead was again double digits, 31-20, as Bohanan converted two free throws with just over six minutes left.
• At the media timeout, the Flyers had made three straight, giving them a 39-27 lead.
• Dayton made six free throws in the last four minutes of the half to take a 13-point lead into the break.
• Smith led the Flyers in first half scoring with 10 points and rebounds with seven. As a team, the Flyers recorded 20 rebounds.

3rd Quarter: Dayton 69, Lindenwood 48
• Bohanon got the second half started for the Flyers, knocking down a jump shot in the paint 20 seconds in to make it a 15-point lead.
• The Flyers capitalized on a Lions scoring drought, extending their lead to 18 over the course of a 2:49 scoreless run.
• Smith converted a layup off an offensive rebound with 3:34 left in the quarter to give the Flyers a 20-point lead.

4th Quarter: Dayton 91, Lindenwood 73
• Bohanon hit a three to get the fourth-quarter scoring started for the Flyers, followed by a forced turnover on the defensive end and a transition layup by Jones.
• Perez converted a layup in transition off a flashy assist from junior Ivy Wolf with 7:09 remaining.
• At the media timeout, the Lions had gone cold from the field, missing their last four attempts, allowing the Flyers to jump out to a 22-point lead.
• With 1:46 left to play, junior Eleanor Monyek hit a turnaround jumper, her first points of the contest.
• The Flyers scored 22 points in the fourth quarter, propelling them to victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
44 - The Flyers recorded a total of 44 rebounds, led by Smith with 15.
17 - Jones led all scorers with 17 points on the afternoon and was one of five Flyers in double-digit scoring.
19 - As a team, Dayton recorded a total of 19 assists led by Lear with five on the afternoon.
55.6 - For the game, Dayton was 35-for-63 from the field for a 55.6 field-goal percentage

KEY STAT
Rebounds - The Flyers out-rebounded the Lions 44-29 on the day.

UP NEXT
Dayton will travel to Athens, Ohio, to take on Ohio on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Bobcats' Convocation Center. CLICK HERE for more schedule info.

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