Griffins Shooting Goes Cold In The Fourth Against Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The Fontbonne University women's basketball team was in search of huge conference road win against Spalding on Wednesday night, however, the Golden Eagles pulled away in the fourth for the 72-62 win.

Overall, the Griffins (6-9; 3-4 SLIAC) shot 41.8 percent from the floor and pulled down 32 boards. Raven Venegas had a strong game on the inside as the Racine, Wis., native, went 8-of-13 to tie her season-high with 17 points.

Riley Guffey followed up her career-high 19 points with 14 this evening, while Rylee Stafford tied Guffey with three 3-pointers to conclude with 13.

The Golden Eagles (10-6; 6-2 SLIAC) ended the outing with a 40.9 field goal percentage and totaled 41 boards, including owning a 15-6 advantage on the offensive side of the glass. Spalding led 32 points in the paint compared to 18 for Fontbonne.

Individually, Alex Martin and Maleah Hirn tied with 16 points each. Megan Goeing shot 50.0 percent (6-of-12) to finish with 15 points, while Allison Just rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.

In the first, the Griffins opened with a 9-5 lead on Raven Venegas' jumper. Three minutes later, the team trailed 13-11, but Guffey made her layup and got fouled on the play to tie the game.

She went on to make the free throw to put Fontbonne on top, 14-13. Each team added a basket the final two minutes and it was the Griffins owning the 16-15 lead.

In the second quarter, the Golden Eagles picked its efforts up on both ends of the floor. The team shot 47.1 percent from the field and outrebounded Fontbonne, 11-4.

Things started out well for Fontbonne early with the team scoring the first five points on a bucket from Raven Venegas and a 3-pointer from Jillian Venegas in the first minute to extend the lead out to 21-15.

Over the next five minutes, though the Golden Eagles went on a 16-2 run to lead by eight (31-23) on Just's layup. Fontbonne stayed within striking distance prior to the half as Raven Venegas hit her shot off the glass with 6.0 seconds left to make it 35-30 at the break.

In the third, the Griffins came out shooting. The team went 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from the field, hit four 3-pointers, and outrebounded Spalding this time around 8-6.

Fontbonne continued to chip away at the deficit and eventually trailed by one with 4:53 left after Stafford drained her 3-pointer. Spalding stretched the lead back out to five (51-46) one minute and 53 seconds later, but the Griffins answered right back.

With 2:27 to go, the Golden Eagles led 53-39. However, a layup from Raven Venegas and a made jumper from Paige Black at the 1:26 mark tied the game up at 53-53.

Prior to the quarter ending, the Golden Eagles got a bucket from Kendyl Powell to take a two-point lead going into the fourth.

After shooting at least 42.0 percent and above in the first three quarters, the Griffins went cold from the field in the fourth as they went 3-of-13 (23.1 percent).

Spalding scored the first eight points in the fourth to own a 10-point (63-53) advantage with 5:55 left in regulation.

Fontbonne got the deficit down to 65-59 on Black's layup with 3:42 remaining, but that'd be as close as they'd get with Spalding going on for the win.

The team returns to the court on Saturday as they'll pay a visit to rival Webster. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the women's basketball team.

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