KANSAS CITY, Mo. — To kick off the 2022-2023 season, Southern Nazarene Women's Basketball suited up for the MIAA's two-day Tip Off Classic in Kansas City, Missouri, where SNU fought hard with their first opponent Nebraska Kearny, but lost 53-75.
Looking to build off of a successful 2021-2022 season, Head Coach Trent May and his squad put together a competitive non-conference schedule to pave the way for the rest of the season. The Lopers (1-0, 0-0 MIAA), an MIAA notable, put up an impressive previous season, making it two rounds into the NCAA regional tournament and finishing with a 24-8 overall record, making this an anticipated opening game for the Crimson Storm.
The Storm (0-1, 0-0 GAC) featured a few new players and coaching staff to open the season, putting up a collective team effort in the fight against Nebraska Kearney. The first three quarters were tight, until foul troubles and hot shooting from the Lopers outscored SNU 22-5 in the 4th, leading NKU to the victory.
Returning starter Cassandra Awatt opened the ballgame with a jumper from 10 feet out, giving SNU the offensive push. Awatt controlled SNU's momentum after the teams traded buckets, getting SNU to a 9-4 lead after a pair of free throws. The Lopers would hit a few three-pointers to claim the lead, ending the first quarter up 16-14 over SNU.
Georgia Adams kickstarted the second quarter with a three-ball to put SNU back in the lead to start. The Lopers continued to drain the jumpers from deep, knocking down three in just under three minutes to put NKU up 27-21. SNU took control on a few offensive positions after, with returner Payton Jones drilling one from beyond the arc to tie the game at 31-31.
The teams continued to go back and forth and an NKU three-ball would push the Lopers to a 40-35 lead at halftime.
NKU started the second half with two unanswered buckets before Adams drilled another three to put the Storm with five at 38-44. Hannah Giddey, the transfer from Oral Roberts, put on some action as she chipped in three points to cut the Storm's deficit down to three.
The Storm would suffer a couple of fouls late in the third quarter, giving the Lopers a few free points that would push them to a 53-48 lead with one quarter to go.
The Lopers turned up their offense in the final quarter, going on a 3-0 run that would propel them to a 12-point lead. Awatt was able to stop the bleeding with a three-ball shortly after, but NKU answered with a three of their own to keep the Storm away.
Adams would hit a pair of free throws to bring the Storm within 10, but NKU went on another run, growing their 10-point lead to 22, ending the ball game with a final score of 75-53.
Adams showed out for the Storm's first game of the season, leading the team with 14 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Giddey meshed well in her first game representing the Storm scoring 11 points, grabbing two assists and a block. Awatt finished with 10 points that afternoon to go along with five rebounds and two steals.
Jones celebrated her first game back on the hardwood after suffering a season-ending injury in 2021. The junior went 2-3 from the three-point line and dished out two assists. Lauryn Reither chipped in a three-pointer to go along with a steal and three rebounds.
Stepping into his fifth season with SNU, Coach May had this to say about the game:
"Was fun being back on the floor to start the season. I thought there were some good moments, smart plays, and maturity displayed. We went toe to toe with a good, really experienced veteran team. I don't think the final score is a good snapshot of how we played, but to win tough games you have to play 40 minutes. We now have good reference points that we will build on and excited to do just that."
SNU will have a quick turn-around as they suit up to play Fort Hays State Sunday, November 6th at 1:30 PM.
