Box Score Alma, Mich. - The Alma College women's basketball team started the game off strong and never looked back to defeat the Kalamazoo College Hornets at home in the Art Smith Arena, 67-55. At the conclusion of the day Alma improved to 8-13 overall and 3-11 in conference. While Kalamazoo dropped to 7-16 on the season and 4-10 in the conference.
Junior Tara Padgett (Freeland, Mich./Freeland) led Alma with her season high 21 points, she also picked up three steals and four assists. Freshman Sophie Guzman (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge) put on a show scoring her first double-double of her collegiate career with a career high 17 points and adding a career high 11 rebounds.
A three-pointer from Padgett with six minutes left to play in the first quarter was the exact spark the Scots needed to go on a 12-2 run to out score Kalamazoo 22-10 in the first quarter all while shooting 43.8 percent.
The second quarter was similar for Alma and the team went in to the half time break with a significant 40-21 lead over Kalamazoo. At the half Alma was shooting 48 percent and held Kalamazoo to only 30.9 percent.
The third quarter was a different story as the Hornets held the Scots to just six points while they put up 19 points themselves. Kalamazoo was able to cut the lead to just six points to head in to the fourth quarter, 46-40.
In the fourth quarter Alma remained strong going on a small run of their own. Padgett added nine of her 21 points in those 10 minutes as she went 7-8 from the free throw line and sank a jumper.
Alma will be back in action on Saturday (Feb. 13) in Art Smith Arena to host Olivet College at 3:00 p.m. It will be Alma's last home game of the 2015-16 season and they will be honoring their seniors with Senior Day.
GAME NOTES:
- Sophie Guzman scored a season high of 17 points and grabbed another season high of 11 rebounds.
- Three Scots scored in the double-digits for the fourth time this year in the victory.
- Kelsey Wolffis has recorded a block in every single game this season except two.
- Guzman has hit a three pointer in every single game this season except one.
- Alma has gone 6-4 at home this 2015-16 campaign with one final home game remaining.
QUOTES:
Head Coach Kris Johnson
on the win...
"It was a great team effort tonight. We executed well on offense and showed great patience. We were active and tough on defense. We have been preaching rebounding and we finally did that tonight. We had a let down in the third quarter but composed ourselves and made run of our own to get the victory."
