KENOSHA, WIS. – Using a balanced attack, the Maryville women's basketball team opened the 2025-26 season with a 65-61 road victory at Parkside Friday morning. Annika Pluemer led the Saints with 14 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, while Madyson Ridgon and Claire Lueken both finished with 11 points apiece. The Saints hit five straight free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rangers scored the first eight points of the game but the Saints slowly rallied and took a 12-11 lead on a Claire Lueken 3-pointer. The game stayed close but UWP took an 18-17 lead after one. Trailing 25-21, Maryville went on a 9-1 run to jump ahead. Gracie Gopalan scored five straight points. Annika Pluemer scored on a drive for a 30-26 edge. The Rangers retook the lead at 32-30 but the Saints answered by scoring nine straight points. Maryville took a 39-34 lead into halftime.
 
The Saints stayed ahead for most of the third as Parkside closed to 46-45. Bree Shannon hit two free throws and a layup, and a late jumper by Lindsey Schadewalt built a 51-47 edge heading into the final 15 minutes. The teams traded baskets before Lueken sank a jumper for a 57-51 lead with five minutes to play. Pluemer made one free throw by the Saints took their largest lead of the day at 58-51. The Rangers closed to one with 1:44 remaining. Pluemer pushed the margin to three with a layup. In the final minute, UWP again chopped the deficit to one but Pluemer sank two free throws with 28 ticks left. Parkside made a layup before Lueken sank two at the stripe for a 64-61 advantage. The Maryville defense forced a miss, and Pluemer grabbed the rebound and put the game away with a free throw with seven seconds remaining.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Annika Pluemer - 14
Rebounds: Olivia Hahn - 6
Assists: Lindsey Schadewalt - 2
3-Pointers: Madyson Rigdon - 3
Steals: Gracie Gopalan and Annika Pluemer- 3
Blocked Shots: Alicia Burgos and Annika Pluemer - 1
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 1-0
Parkside: 0-1
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints stay on the road and head to Chicago to take on Roosevelt for a contest at Roosevelt University.