Leavenworth, Kan.- The University of Saint Mary Women's Basketball team hosted Benedictine College to open the 2023-24 season, resulting in an 87-74 win. The Spires are now 1-0 to start the year and tied the record for the most three-pointers made as a team in a game with 16.

Alanis Delgado opened the scoring for the Spires with two threes, and Demi Aamold added another to make it a 9-2 game four minutes in. Another three from Delgado midway through the quarter put Saint Mary up by ten points. The Ravens pulled within six after a made free throw, but the Spire's offensive output continued to roll and ended the quarter up 22-13. 

Saint Mary maintained their lead to open the second quarter with threes from Alyche Brown and Keely Barnard to make it a 29-15. After a timeout from the Spires, Benedictine hit a three to pull within eight points. Two more threes from the Ravens cut the USM lead to four, making it 37-36 with a little over a minute left in the half. A final three from Benedictine tied the game at 39 as they entered the break. 

Delgado opened the second half with a three to break the tie, and the Spires returned on the offensive. Layups from Brown and Paige Pendley helped the Saint Mary cause and made it a 50-44 game with five minutes to go in the third quarter. Benedictine pulled within seven of the Spires after a layup, but free throws from Tanea Sims and Summer Wieneke kept the lead out of reach for the Ravens.

In the fourth, the Saint Mary offense came alive again as the team played complimentary basketball throughout the final quarter. Sims hit two later three to end what looked like another Benedictine run to give the Spires an 87-74 win over the Ravens.

Up Next

Saint Mary will hit the road to take on the Park Pirates at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Parkville, Missouri.