December 15, 2012
For Immediate Release
Box score
Adrian, Mich. – Junior Rachael Kruse (Ft. Wayne, IN/Homestead) dropped a career-high 31 points to lead the Indiana Tech women’s basketball team to a 101-86 win over Lourdes University on Saturday.
Indiana Tech improved to 3-0 all-time against Lourdes and bumped its overall record to 3-9 and 3-4 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Gray Wolves lost their seventh straight contest, falling to 3-10 on the year and 1-6 in the WHAC.
The Lady Warriors started hot hitting their first six shots from the floor to open a 13-8 lead. Tech would stay in front for most of the first half, and matched its largest lead of the day at seven, 33-26, following a basket from Chelsea Carradine (Redford, MI/Thurston) at the 8:55 mark.
Eight straight points from Lourdes though would give the Gray Wolves their first lead since the opening minutes. The teams traded the lead a couple times over the next few minutes before the Warriors regained the lead after a six point spurt with just over a minute to go in the period.
Tech held a 47-42 lead in the closing seconds but a three-pointer at the buzzer by Lourdes made it a two point game at the half.
The Warriors shot 59 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, but Lourdes managed to hang around by hitting seven three-pointers.
The Gray Wolves knocked down another triple to begin the second stanza to jump back in front, but Kruse would take over from there scoring seven of Tech’s first nine points in the half to put the Warriors in front for good.
Holding a 60-56 advantage, Kruse converted an old fashioned three point play to spark a scoring run that put the Warriors ahead by double digits, 69-69, with 11:59 remaining.
Tech continued to extend its lead over the next seven minutes, eventually pushing it to 20 and would cruise to the victory from there.
It was the second time the Lady Warriors have reached the century mark in the last two seasons, scoring 100 against the Gray Wolves last year as well.
Kruse scored 22 of her career-best 31 in the second half and also added four rebounds. Every player that saw action made it in the scoring column with three other players joining Kruse in double figures. Ulyssia Richmond (Temple Hills, MD/Riverdale Baptist) followed with 23 while Carradine added 15 and Kaneisha Bass (Detroit, MI/Lincoln Trail) chipped in 12. Rayana Villalpando (Bellflower, CA/Downey) pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists.
The Warriors return to the court on Tuesday, Dec. 18 when they welcome the University of Saint Francis to the Schaefer Center for a crosstown clash with the Cougars beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information on Indiana Tech athletics please call the Athletic Office at 260-422-5561 ext. 2492 or visit our website at http://www.indianatech.edu/athletics
