DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team won 72-68 against Central Michigan Sunday Afternoon at UD Arena.
The Flyers improved to 6-4 on the campaign while the Chippewas fell to 3-7 on the year.
GAME BREAKDOWN
1st Quarter: Dayton 17, Central Michigan 18
- Senior Arianna Smith started the scoring for the Flyers with a finish in the post, thanks to an assist from graduate student Rikki Harris on the first possession of the game.
- After an impressive behind-the-back pass from Harris, Smith finished the play to give the Flyers a 4-0 lead.
- After several back-and-forth possessions on both sides, Harris racked up her third assist of the afternoon, finding Sophmore Jayda Johnson for a layup to make the Flyer lead 4-10 at the 5:28 mark.
- Harris continued her impressive first quarter by finishing a fast break layup to halt a 4-0 Central Michigan run with 3:43 left to play.
- A 7-0 run from Central Michigan saw them take a 15-14 lead before Freshman Olivia Leung knocked down a three with 30 seconds left to regain the lead for UD.
- This lead was short-lived however, as Central Michigan hit a three as time expired to take a 17-18 lead into the break.
2nd Quarter: Dayton 37, Central Michigan 30
- Senior Ivy Wolf got things going for Dayton in the second quarter, drilling a mid-range jumper to take back the lead.
- After a score on the other end, Senior Shannon Wheeler got in the scoring column with a finish on the fast break.
- On the next possession, Smith rebounded her miss and laid it back in to give the Flyers a 23-20 lead with just under eight minutes left in the half.
- After a Central Michigan three tied the game, Leung drove in for a tough finish through contact to give the lead back to UD.
- Another Smith layup made her the first player on either team to reach double figures and extended the lead to 27-23.
- Three straight field goals from Central Michigan tied the game at 29 but Johnson ensured the lead stayed in the Flyers' control as she hit a mid-range jumper and two free throws to push the lead to 33-29 with two minutes left to play.
- Harris then hit a long two to push the Dayton lead to six in the half's final minute.
- Wolf finished off a fast break layup as time expired to make the score 37-30 going into halftime.
- The Flyers closed out the half having hit four straight field goals whilst Central Michigan missed their last six.
3rd Quarter: Dayton 49, Central Michigan 48
- After a Central Michigan basket to start the game Junior Nayo Lear layed in a fast break opportunity to push the lead back to seven with eight minutes left in the quarter.
- Two straight threes from Central Michigan and a 3:30 field goal drought saw the Chippewas cut into the deficit. However, strong defense from the Flyers, including two blocks, helped UD to maintain the lead.
- After Central Michigan finally took a lead at 41-42, Leung knocked down a three to give the lead back to the Flyers at 44-42 with 2:52 left in the quarter.
- Wolf hit her first triple of the game to make the score 47-43 with 1:17 left on the clock.
- Despite Central Michigan regaining the lead at 47-48, Smith dropped in a layup as time expired to give the Flyers a one-point lead heading into the final quarter.
4th Quarter: Dayton 72, Central Michigan 68
- A hot start to the quarter from Central Michigan allowed them to claim a 51-49 lead before Wolf got a friendly bounce to drop in a long two to tie the game with just under eight minutes to play.
- After Central Michigan pushed out to a four point advantage, Leung brought it back down to a one score game with an impressive drive to the basket.
- An impressive defensive stretch from UD kept it a two point game. Wolf then knocked down her second triple of the game to give the Flyers a 57-56 lead with 5:19 remaining.
- Central Michigan then regained a three point lead but Harris finished a layup through contact and converted the and one to tie the game at 63.
- Harris made another tough layup following a Central Michigan three on the other end to cut the defecit back down to one.
- Central Michigan went on a run to claim a five point advantage but Wheeler found Nicole Stephens on the perimeter for a three to make the score 65-67 with 1:08 left to play.
- Wheeler then finished off a drive through contact to tie the contest at 67 with 44 seconds left on the clock.
- A steal by Sophmore Ajok Madol turned into a fast break layup for Stephens to give the Flyers a 69-67 lead with 28 seconds left in the contest.
- Made free throws on both ends kept it a two point game at 70-68, after a ball out of bounds was ruled to belong to the Flyers and confirmed by a lengthy review, Smith made two free throws to seal the win for the Dayton.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 -Flyers scored in double figures
4-
Rikki Harris tied her season high in steals
6- The Flyers recorded six assists on their first six field goals of the contest.
7-
Rikki Harris set a new season high in assists
10- steals as a team for the Flyers
UP NEXT
The Flyers will be back in action on Thursday, December 19 as they play host to Vanderbilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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