Culver-Stockton boxscore in PDF

The Maryville women's basketball team put five players in double figures and led nearly the entire way in a season-opening 97-73 victory over visiting Culver-Stockton Sunday afternoon in Moloney Arena. Alex Hillyer and Alex Wolf scored 15 points apiece to pace the Saints attack.
 
The Saints were up 7-5 before scoring nine straight points. Jordynn Martin's jumper started the run, and Ali Ringering added two free throws. Rita Flynn worked inside for a bucket, and Shelby Miller's three-point play gave the Saints a 16-5 lead. The Saints kept a comfortable margin and went up 26-14 on a Martin jumper midway through the first half. The Wildcats rallied and cut their deficit to just two. Maryville held a 31-28 edge and scored six straight. Ringering drained a triple, and Ellen Foster converted one free throw. Another hoop by Ringering built a 37-28 lead. Hayley Maystead hit a long 3-pointer from the right wing for an 11-point lead before the Saints settled for a 51-42 edge at halftime.
 
Maryville still held a 54-49 lead early in the second half but scored nine straight points. Wolf powered inside for a layup, and Miller drained another 3-pointer. Martin converted a layup, and a bucket by Wolf accounted for a 63-49 lead five minutes after the break. The Saints still led 71-55 before putting the game away with a 9-2 run. Danie Shafer drained a 3-pointer, and after a Culver-Stockton basket, Hiller scored consecutive layups. Two free throws by Martin extended the margin to 80-57 with 9:24 to play. The Saints led by as many as 24 points and cruised to the win.
 
Wolf hit 7-of-9 shots from the field and added three rebounds, while Hillyer grabbed a team-high seven boards. Ringering and Shelby Miller both added 14 points, while Shafer hit all four of her shots from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, to wind up with 11 points.
 
The Saints (1-0) shot 50.8 percent from the field as they hit 32-of-63 shots, including 9-of-22 from 3-point range. Maryville is next in action Friday in a tournament hosted by UMSL. The Saints face Minnesota State-Mankato Friday in a 5 pm contest at the Mark Twain Building.