Lyon College Women Overcome Harris-Stowe, 71-62

Courtesy Lyon College Athletics Department

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 23-ranked Lyon College women’s basketball team overcame a dismal first-half shooting performance and a one-point halftime deficit Thursday night as senior Suzanne Fincham recorded a double-double and the Scots captured their American Midwest Conference opener with a 71-62 victory over Harris Stowe-State University in the Emerson Performance Center.

The Scots hit only 26.5% (9-of-34) from the field in the opening half, but improved that to 47.8% (11-of-23) in the final 20 minutes as they forced 17 turnovers and limited the Lady Hornets to only 33.3% (10-of-30) in the second period to secure the win.

Lyon College, which has won six of its last seven games, improved to 10-2 on the season, but more importantly, 1-0 in AMC action. Harris-Stowe dropped to 3-10 on the season, 0-1 in league play.

The Scots won the game despite hitting only 35.1% (20-of-57) from the field and 63.2% (24-of-38) from the charity stripe. Lyon held a slight advantage in the rebounding department (39-37) and committed one less turnover (16) than the Lady Hornets. The Scots were 7-of-16 (43.8%) from behind the three-point arc.

Fincham posted a career-high 11 rebounds in the contest, with four of them coming on the offensive end. She also tied for the Scots’ leading scorer with 13 points, despite struggling (3-of-10) from the field.

Phagen Altom also chipped in 13 points, to go along with five assists, four boards and a pair of steals. Whitney Keith dropped in 12 points off the bench, while adding six rebounds and two assists. Gabby Jenkins scored 11 points off the Scots’ bench, chipping in six rebounds, as well.

Debbie Onukwube scored nine points and had seven boards for Lyon, while Alex Davidson scored seven points and dished out five assists. Taylor Grigg and Jahnette Epperson chipped in three points apiece.

Harris-Stowe held the slim halftime lead despite hitting 45.8% (11-of-24) from the field and playin solid defense. The Lady hornets finished the game with a 38.9 (21-of-54) percentile, while converting 4-of-11 (36.4%) from three-point territory and 16-of-23 (69.6%) from the charity stripe.

Lyon College held Harris-Stowe leading scorer Shanique Buford six points under her season average, as she scored 12 points and added 13 rebounds. Kayla Fisher led all scorers with 19 points, while adding five rebounds, Alexis Minner dropped in 12 points and hauled in five rebounds and Tiffany Morris scored nine points.

In other AMC openers on Thursday, Park University (4-6, 1-0 AMC) topped Missouri Baptist (3-10, 0-1 AMC), 53-43, Columbia College (8-5, 1-0 AMC) dominated Williams Baptist College (7-6, 0-1 AMC), 58-36, William Woods University (10-1, 1-0 AMC) knocked off Benedictine University at Springfield (3-8, 0-1), 88-67, and Hannibal-LaGrange University (8-4, 1-0 AMC) clipped Stephens College (3-9, 0-1), 63-50.

Lyon College will return home for its league home opener on Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Scots host arch-rival Williams Baptist College at 2 p.m. in James C. Becknell Gymnasium. Lyon will then host Ecclesia College on Monday night at 5:30 p.m. in a non-conference matchup.