Dominating Second Half Gives Bulldogs Season Opening Win

Box Score

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A blistering second half by the Truman Women's Basketball team led to a 94-64 season opening victory over McKendree (Ill.) University on Saturday afternoon in Pershing Arena. The Bulldogs outscored the Bearcats 60-33 in the final 20 minutes to break open just a three-point game at half.

Sophomore Allie Norton (Bloomington, Ill., Central Catholic) led five Truman scorers in double figures with 20 points going 3-of-4 from three in the second period and 4-of-7 from long range for the game. Norton put the final nail in the coffin as the Bulldogs went on a 16-2 run and had four three-pointers by four different players during a two minute span.

Truman (1-0) led by 12 early on but the Bearcats closed the first half on a 13-4 run and trailed 34-31 at the break. They would get to within one point at the 18:02 mark following a basket by Caty Ponce and had two cracks at taking the lead before senior Becka McHenry ignited the Truman offense.

McHenry (Fraser, Mich., Fraser) scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half after being saddled with a pair of fouls. She dished out four assists and added three rebounds.

Junior Bianca Szafarowicz (Wheeling, Ill., Wheeling) pulled down a career-best 12 boards as Truman dominated the glass 49-26 and 28 to five in the second half. Fellow juniors Nicole Gloor (Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley) and Amy Briggs (Lansing, Kan., Lansing) each added 11 and senior Jennifer Conway (Waterloo, Ill., Waterloo) finished with 10 points.

Truman shot 49% for the game and was 9-of-22 from beyond the arc.

McKendree (1-2) was led by Ponce's 18 points. Liz Gillman and Emily Woodland each contributed 14 apiece. The Bearcats shot 41% for the game and 35% (5-of-14) from three.

Truman will take on their second straight future Great Lakes Valley Conference opponent on Tuesday night as they travel across the Mississippi river to face Quincy (Ill.) University. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

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