Molly Ray delivers career-high 24-point performance against SMWC

St. Louis, Mo. - With four games in eight days, Fontbonne head coach Maureen Sias gave her starters a break against non-conference opponent St. Mary of the Woods College (SMWC). Today's starters included two freshmen, two sophomores and junior Molly Ray who delivered a big punch for the Griffins.

Fontbonne opened with a 10-0 lead before the Pomeroys' press rattled the Griffins, allowing them to score 14 straight points. The Pomeroy's finished with a 30-16 advantage as the Griffins committed 12 first-quarter turnovers. Trailing 20-40, the Griffins went on a 12-4 run to trail 31-44. SMWC then took a 49-37 halftime lead. Ray led Fontbonne with 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Third-quarter action improved for the Griffins who outscored SMWC 20-14. Fontbonne trailed 52-60 before Paige Black connected on a layup and the extra point attempt to cut the Pomeroy's lead to five. Ray stole the ball under the basket and secured the layup to bring the Griffin's within three, but the Indiana team scored from long-range to end the quarter with a 63-57 lead. 

With the coaching staff frustrated about fouls, the Griffins sustained a technical and competition heated during the final quarter, both teams trading buckets to the end. Fontbonne trailed 78-83 but a free-throw by Jessica Jordan and layup by DeAmbra Pilkinton pulled the home team within two points with 11 seconds remaining. Fontbonne was forced to foul and the Pomeroys went up by four with eight seconds left, but a turnover ended Fontbonne's chances of a comeback.

Ray's 24 points is a career-high as she went 9-of-13 on the day and 6-of-8 at the line. She also brought down nine rebounds and four assists. Other Griffins totaling double-digits included Kaitlynn Walker with 13 points and Black with recorded 12 points and eight rebounds. Jordan and Taylor Ventmigilia each tallied seven rebounds in the fast-paced shooting contest.

SMWC made just three of 33 attempts from long-range as the Griffins blanked on seven attempts. Fontbonne's 40% in the field and 70.8% at the charity stripe weren't enough to battle back for the win as the Griffins fell 87-81.

Fontbonne hosts Greenville College this Wednesday in a SLIAC matchup at 6 p.m. before heading to Eureka on Saturday.