St. Louis – Behind a career-high 20 points from Gracie Stugart, the Maryville women's basketball team rolled past Roosevelt 76-62. Annika Pluemer led three others in double figures with 15 points, while Madyson Rigdon and Claire Rake finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Maryville defense held Roosevelt to 22.2 percent shooting with a dominant fourth-quarter performance.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints scored seven of the first 10 points of the game, and a Pluemer 3-pointer led to a quick 7-3 lead. Stugart sank a 3-pointer and Madyson Rigdon added a jumper for a 17-8 advantage. The Saints led by double-digits but took a 21-14 lead into the second.  The Lakers stayed close and pulled to within 30-26 before the Saints closed with a 5-0 run. Pluemer drained a triple, and two free throws by Rigdon put the Saints on top 35-26 at intermission.
 
 
Maryville extended its cushion to 39-28 after two from Pluemer at the line until Roosevelt tallied eight straight points. The Saints were clinging to a 41-38 margin but used a 10-1 run to grab a 12-point edge. After one Rigdon free throw, Stugart completed a 3-point play. Adylan Ayer knocked down a 3-pointer in transition and a triple by Stugart was goof for a 51-39 lead.
 
 
Roosevelt scored the last eight points of the third and the first five of the fourth to jump to a 52-51 lead, its first of the game. Pluemer drilled a 3-pointer before the game was tied two more times. The Lakers tied the game one final time at 56-all but Maryville responded with 11 unanswered points. Stugart sparked the run with a three-point play before the Saints sank three straight free throws. Ayer closed the burst with a layup and a trey for a 67-56 lead with 3:28 left to take control.
 
Stugart also showcased her versatility with six rebounds and four assists, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Pluemer also hit three from deep as he Saints knocked down nine triples. Maryville's defensive intensity was evident throughout, forcing Roosevelt into 19 turnovers and converting those into 22 points.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Gracie Stugart -20
Rebounds: Faith Hawthorne - 9
Assists: Gracie Stugart - 4
3-Pointers: Gracie Stugart and Annika Pluemer - 3
Steals: Madyson Rigdon - 4
Blocked Shots: Faith Hawthorne - 2
 
RECORDS:
Maryville: 1-1
Roosevelt: 0-2
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints head to Minnesota for two games and start the trip Friday, Nov. 15, at Winona State.