Saints Conclude Three-Game Road Trip with Win Over Spartans | Schools

CLINTON, Iowa--The Ashford women's basketball team showed no signs of being slowed by the Thanksgiving holiday, as they notched their third road win of the year on Saturday, downing Missouri Baptist University, 62-51.

Sophomore Quinn Rear had 18 points and junior Briaunna Guthrie chipped in with 14 off the bench, as the Saints were able to overcome a shaky start to improve to 4-4 on the 2012-13 campaign.

The opening portion of the game would belong to the Spartans, who held a lead as large as 14-5 at one point. But despite the slow start from the floor, the Saints would battle to tie the game thanks to a 12-3 run that was capped by a layup from Rear at the 7:03 mark.

The buckets would continue to fall for the Saints, who would hold a lead as big as eight in the first half before taking a 29-25 lead into the intermission.

Ashford would have to hold off a charge by the Spartans out of the half, who cut the deficit to a single point after Lauren Taylor layup made it a 35-34 game. But the Saints knocked down their chances at the free throw line and got a boost from the three-point shooting of Rear and Guthrie, who combined to bury five triples in the second half to pull away for the win.

The Saints would win the battle on the glass, 35-34, led by eight from both Rear and senior Deana Bledsoe. Ashford would knock down 39.2% (20-of-51) of their shots and held the Spartans to 36.2% (21-for-58) on the afternoon.

Mandy Kirby led the Spartans with 14 points and Kristyne Smyth added 13 for Missouri Baptist, who fell to 2-4 on the year.

After wrapping up a three-game road trip, the Saints will return to action in Clinton on Wednesday, Nov. 28, when they welcome the Mustangs of Mt. Mercy to Kehl Arena for a 7:00 p.m. tip. Ashford took the season's first meeting, 73-52, back on Nov. 14 in Cedar Rapids.

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