It had been nine days since the Berea College women's basketball team had last "laced them up" falling to Asbury University at home back on January 24. Tonight versus former KIAC rival, the Eagles of Alice Lloyd College, they showed a few signs of rust, but also looked refreshed and ready to make a late season run at the USCAA National Championships.
It was all BC from the tip, as the #9 Mountaineers (10-8) scored the opening six points. The Eagles (6-16) would hang tough using the long range bomb to keep the score close. BC made a defensive adjustment by going to a full-court press at the 15:49 mark. That increased defensive pressure proved pivotal as it set up a 12-2 run by the Mountaineers. The freshman duo of Alexus Calhoun and Adriana Williams were dominate in the first half. Calhoun down low scoring 12 and Williams in the front court as she forced five steals and dropped in 19. The Blue Crew went to the half with a commanding 48-31 lead.
The second half was all Mountaineers. Between the press, the 2-3 zone trap, and precise shooting the Mountaineers surged leading by as many as 26 points. Every member of the Mountaineer bench saw double-digit minutes and scored. The biggest basket of the game came with just four minutes left, when a senior, Johnesha Warren converted a rather ordinary lay-up. What made that basket so special was that it gave Warren 1,000 points in her three-year Berea College career. When the buzzer finally sounded the Mountaineers had earned their 10th win of the season 95-71.
Leading the way for the Mountaineers was three players who scored 20 points or more: Adriana Williams dropped in 25 on 10 of 13 shooting, while Alexus Calhoun racked up a near double-double with nine rebounds to along with her 20 points. Of course, there was Warren, who again was stellar with a double-double - 20 points, 10 rebounds and a team high seven assists.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Friday, when they host another former KIAC rival, Indiana University – Kokomo at 5:30 pm. The Mountaineers defeated IUK, 86-77 back in early December.