Griffins secure home-opener win with more broken records

St. Louis, Mo. - The 2014-15 Fontbonne University women's basketball team recorded a win in their home opener. The Griffins defeated the Knox College Prairie Fire 93-88 for their second win in a row.

Thirty seconds into the game Knox made their first substitution replacing all five players on the court, which continued for each Prairie Fire substitution in hopes to tire out the Griffins. Fontbonne's first substitiution came as Knox put in their fourth line on the court four and a half minutes into the game when Fontbonne led 10-9. After Knox led 13-10, the Griffins went on a scoring streak with 16 unanswered points. After leading 28-16, Fontbonne went cold on the floor as Knox pulled within three points with 6:34 left in the first half. Knox scored 11 points in a row to take a 42-38 lead. At halftime the Griffins trailed 42-47. Knox full-court pressured throughout the game. The Griffins were ready for the press, scoring 12 points off fast breaks in the first half

Play was back and forth as the two teams were tied eight times and held nine lead changes in the second half. Knox secured the biggest lead of only six points with 13:09 left to play when the Griffins then scored six straight points to tie the game 64-64. The Griffins came out on top after leading for a total of 20 minutes in the game.

Knox College had multiple players that could shoot well beyond the men's three-point arc, finishing the night with nine treys as the Griffins blanked from long range. Fontbonne outshot Knox in the field 44.4%-37.3%.

Sophomore Emmie Haring (Ballwin, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) guided the Griffins in breaking Knox's press. Haring drove around multiple players as she collected 12 assists on the night and 10 points. Haring has made her mark in the history books as she tied the school record for most assists in a game. Sophomore Olivia Hollander secured 17 points and 10 rebounds while Erika Kuhn and Chelsy Gibson each narrowly missed double-doubles. Kuhn scored the game-high 25 points, adding 9 points. She went 13-17 from the free throw line. Gibson tallied 22 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. She scored eight buckets of 11 attempts at the line.

As a team, the Griffins made 29 free throws on 44 attempts, breaking the school records for most free throws made and attempted in a single game.

The Griffins dive into conference play this Tuesday when they travel to Principia College in Elsah, Ill. for a 6pm tipoff.