Kirksville, Mo. – All five Maryville women's basketball starters reached double figures in scoring as the Saints tripped up Truman State 79-65. Haidyn Pitsch led the way with 20 points on six 3-pointers. Karlee Feldman had another double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Gracie Stugart had a sterling all-around game with 12 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals. The Saints hit 12 3-pointers and shot 86.4 percent at the line (19-of-22).
 
Truman State recap
The Saints dominated from the tip as they scored the first 13 points of the game. Gracie Stugart and Antoinette Mussorici sank back-to-back 3-pointers to start the scoring run. Feldman powered for a layup, and Pitsch splashed in a triple. Stugart's layup gave Maryville a 13-0 lead as Truman State missed its first six shots and committed three turnovers. The Saints defense surrendered its first points of the night at the 4:26 mark as Truman finally scored. Annika Pluemer sandwiched a layup and a 3-pointer around a Truman bucker as the Saints went up 18-5.
 
Truman chipped away at the deficit and closed the gap to 26-21 midway through the second. Carsyn Fearday made two free throws that started a 9-2 run. Pitsch had a layup, and after a Bulldogs score, Fearday had three straight points. Two at the line by Mussorici rebuilt a double-digit lead at 35-23.
 
Early in the third, Truman State got back to within 37-30 but the Saints again had the answer. Fearday sank a jumper before Mussorici and Pitsch hit consecutive triples for a 45-30 advantage. The Bulldogs got as close as 12 points until Faith Hawthorne sank a 3-pointer. Truman made one last push and got the gap down to nine but the Saints scored six straight points to put the game out of reach.
 
Statistical Leaders
Points: Haidyn Pitsch - 20
Rebounds: Karlee Feldman - 15
Assists: Gracie Stugart - 8
3-Pointers: Haidyn Pitsch - 6
Steals: Gracie Stugart - 4
Blocked Shots: Karlee Feldman - 3
 
Records3
Maryville: 14-9, 11-6 GLVC
Truman State: 6-17, 3-14 GLVC
 
What's Next?
The Saints make their inaugural trip to Upper Iowa for a conference game Saturday, Feb. 17, in a 1 p.m. start in Fayette, Iowa.