The Dominican University women's basketball team opened the 2019-2020 season on Monday night, topping the Kalamazoo College Hornets 58-38 on the road in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Senior
Timiya Ray poured in a game-high 20 points while
Alexis Hoskins chipped in 12 points and added a game-high 13 rebounds in the winning effort.
Leading just 39-35 heading to the fourth quarter, the Stars broke the game open with a 19-point effort while smothering the Hornets defensively, surrendering just three fourth-quarter points and forcing seven turnovers and limiting the host Hornets to just 1-for-13 shooting. On the offensive end of the floor, Hoskins and junior
Stephenee Huggans combined for 13 points in the quarter, going 4-for-7 from the field.
"It was an extremely uncharacteristic first half for us," said
Amanda Parker, the Stars' second-year head coach. "We were really out of sync on both ends of the floor. Luckily, things swayed our way in the middle of the third quarter and we didn't look back."
"There are definitely many facets of the game that we need to work on," continued Parker, "and continue to get better at before we head to Memphis to face two really good teams. However, it is always a great feeling getting that first win of the season."
In the win, Dominican shot just over 34-percent from the field, going 23-for-67. The Stars connected on just two of 18 attempts from three-point land but dominated the Hornets in the paint, scoring 36 points from inside the lane.
Ray finished the night shooting 9-for-20 from the field. The senior added nine boards, four blocks and four steals in the all-around effort.
Dominican, now 1-0 after opening the season with a win for the fourth straight season, travels to Memphis, Tennessee, this weekend to play in the Rhodes Classic at Rhodes College. The Stars will square off against Hendrix College on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. before taking on the host Lynx on Sunday at noon. Dominican then opens Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play with the Concordia University Wisconsin Falcons on Saturday, November 23, at the Igini Sports Forum.
