ST. LOUIS – Claire Rake splashed down five 3-pointers en route to a season-high 24 points to lead the Maryville women's basketball team to a 75-59 victory over Southwest Baptist in the regular season finale. The Saints will await their seed and opponent for the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament March 6-9 in St. Charles, Mo. Annika Pluemer finished with 12 points, while Lindsey Schadewalt chipped in 11 points. Gracie Stugart narrowly missed a triple-double as she contributed nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stugart hit a mid-ranger jumper to put the Saints on top 26-15 early in the second. SBU came back to tie the game before the Saints responded with 10 straight points. Claire Rake splashed in a wing 3-pointer to start the run, and Faith Hawthorne hit a jumper. Rake added a layup and another triple for a 36-26 lead. The Saints kept their advantage and went into the break up 41-31.
 
Rake scored five straight midway through the third as the Saints opened up a 51-35 cushion. SBU scored six of the last eight points of the quarter to close the gap to 58-49 heading into the final 10 minutes. The visitors got even closer by tallying the first five points in the fourth. The Saints stayed ahead before the Saints used a big run. The Bearcats made one last push and got to within 60-57 with 5:30 left to play. However, the Saints went on a 12-0 run to seize final control. Rake drilled a triple to start the burst, and Pluemer sank back-to-back 3-pointers. Rake sank one free throw before two more at the stripe made it 72-57. The Maryville defense allowed just two points down the stretch. With her first assist of the game, Stugart reached 200 assists this season.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Claire Rake - 24
Rebounds: Gracie Stugart - 10
Assists: Gracie Stugart - 9
3-Pointers: Claire Rake - 5
Steals: Gracie Stugart - 2
Blocked Shots: Caden Krohn - 2
 
RECORDS:
Maryville: 14-14, 12-8 GLVC
Southwest Baptist: 8-17, 6-13 GLVC
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints will play in the 2025 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament held in St. Charles, Mo. The tourney runs March 6-9 in Hyland Arena on the campus of Lindenwood University. Read Full Article