DAYTON – The University of Dayton women's basketball team started the 2024-25 season with a win against Southeastern Missouri State, 75-70.

KEY MOMENT
3rd quarter – Graduate student Nicole Stephens sank a three from the corner, then had a quick turnaround when she found herself putting in another shot at the rim, giving the Flyers one of the larger leads in today's game.

GAME BREAKDOWN
1^st Quarter: Dayton 16, Southeast Missouri State 16

• Dayton started out fast, winning the ball, and earning a foul allowing senior Arianna Smith to put points on the board in the first 15 seconds of the game. 
• At 7:20, senior Ivy Wolf sank a jump shot and before the Redhawks could respond, junior Shantavia Dawkins finished a layup giving the Flyers a 3-0 run.
• With 2:15 left in the quarter, freshman Molly O'Riordan and sophomore Ajok Madol made back to back lay ups to tie the game, 14-14.
• Dayton scored 14 points in the paint compared to SEMO's four.

2^nd Quarter: Dayton 30, Southeast Missouri State 32

• Wolf sank a three after a few fouls and little scoring to start off the second quarter, putting the Flyers in the lead, 20-18.
• Sophomore Jayda Johnson put up another bucket, but the Redhawks answered shortly after, making the score 22-20, Flyers.
• After the Redhawks went on an eight-point run, Dawkins drew a foul and made both free throws with 2:40 left in the half.
• After Dawkins went to the line again, the Flyers trailed by three points, with a score of 25-28.

3^rd Quarter: Dayton 53, Southeast Missouri State 52

• An assist by Wolf helped Smith earn a jumper in the first two minutes of the quarter to tighten the race after the Redhawks had a 4-0 run, and bring the game within two at 32-34. 
• Stephens made a three to tie up the game at 37-37.
• With about six minutes left in the third, a breakaway from Stephens led to an assist to Dawkins, who was able to finish with a bucket at the rim.
• Stephens sank a wide open three pointer, then a layup, giving the Flyers a four point lead with 2:30 to go.
• Dayton ended the third quarter shooting 62.5 percent, while SEMO shot 50 percent.

4^th Quarter: Dayton 75, Southeast Missouri State 70

• The Flyers started off hot with Stephens sinking another three from the corner.
• The Redhawks came back with three made shots as well a drawn foul, capping a 9-0 run and bringing their lead 61-56.
• Graduate student Rikki Harris drew a foul on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to narrow the gap.
• Smith found herself under the basket and put in another quick shot at the rim to give the Flyers a three point lead in the final 22 seconds of the game.
• Harris finished the scoring with two good free throws to clinch the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
15 - Nicole Stephens earned her career high 15 points in her Dayton debut with all her points coming in the second half.
10 and 11 - Arianna Smith recorded her first double-double of the season after having 11 last year.  
14 – Dayton had just two assists at halftime, but finished with 14 in the game after a strong second half.
17 to 7 – The Flyers out-shot the Redhawks from the free throw line, making 17-of-27 compared to 7-of-8 for the visitors.
 
KEY STAT
5 - Five Flyers earned themselves double digits in scoring today. Smith with 11, Dawkins with a career-high 12, Harris with 10, Wolf with 10, and Stephens with 15.  
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will host again at home this Friday, Nov. 8 against Delaware State at UD Arena at 7 p.m.

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