#25 Broncos Wallop Warriors by 55

(Forest City, IA) – The women's basketball team came in well-rested on Saturday against Waldorf, having a week off since their last competition. The Broncos put the game out of reach quickly by scoring 24 unanswered first quarter points, leading to a 106-51 victory.

The Broncos outscored the Warriors 33-5 in the opening quarter. With the game tied at two early, Hastings went on a 24-0 run. Junior Mariyah Avila scored the first five points of the game in the opening minute, then Goodon scored the next seven to go up 12-2 three minutes in.

Freshman Ann Bose and senior Kiernan Paulk combined for nine of the next 14 Bronco points to take the 26-2 lead at the 3:35 mark. Leading 28-4, Avila drained her second three of the quarter and stole the ball at the other end, leading to a layup for freshman McKenna Yates, as Hastings took a 33-5 lead entering the second quarter.

Leading 35-7 two minutes into the second quarter, Kissinger scored inside and Avila hit back-to-back threes to extend the lead to 43-7. Bose drilled a couple of threes over the next few minutes to make it 53-16 with 4:39 left.

Yates and junior Macy Bryant scored the next nine points for Hastings to go up 62-22 with 1:35 left in the half, then after a block by sophomore Rachel Goodon, she rebounded a missed three on the offensive end and put it back in to take a 64-22 lead. Waldorf briefly got the lead down to 40 before the half ended, but senior Alyssa Baker drilled a three, ending the half with a 67-24 advantage.

Hastings shot 67 percent from the field in the first half to 27 percent from Waldorf. The Broncos outrebounded the Warriors 24-11 and forced nine turnovers. Avila led the way with 14 first half points. Yates and Bose each had 11 points in the half, with Yates also leading the team with six assists and contributing five rebounds.

The Broncos opened the second half on a 7-0 run, with a fifth three from Avila, and two points each from Bryant and Goodon. Then after a three from Waldorf, Hastings scored five more unanswered points to go up 79-27 with 5:56 left in the third.

Hastings pulled ahead to lead 81-29 on a layup from sophomore Bailey Kissinger. The third quarter would end with Hastings leading 88-40, as Waldorf ended the quarter on a 11-7 run with Hastings giving more minutes to their reserves.

The fourth quarter was more of the same with Hastings giving the reserves some playing time, still outsourcing Waldorf 18-11 in the quarter. The Broncos opened the quarter on a 13-3 run to go up 101-43, eventually winning 106-51. Freshman Mikah O'Neill led Hastings in scoring during the quarter with six points, along with three steals and two rebounds.

Hastings shot 58 percent from the floor for the game, including 48 percent from three, and held Waldorf to 25 percent shooting overall and 17 percent from three. The Broncos also had a huge advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Warriors, 53-30.

Avila had 19 points to lead the Broncos, along with four rebounds, and four rebounds. Bose drained four threes off the bench to score 14 points, while Goodon had 13 points and a team-leading eight rebounds and three blocks. Bryant contributed 13 points and four rebounds. Yates stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, a team-high seven assists, and six rebounds.

Up next, Hastings will play at the College of Saint Mary on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 6pm in Omaha, NE.