Basketball season opener scores game winning baskets

By ELISA DELLE FRATTE

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams started the season off right this weekend, winning the Hampton Inn Tipoff tournament.

The season opener for the women’s team was on Friday against Penn State-Altoona; the Eagles won 61-41.

The lady eagles swept in with an 11-3 lead in the first six minutes of the game. The Eagles never surrendered their lead for the rest of the game.

The top scorers for this game were junior Aubrey Howland, with 14 points,11 rebounds, two assists and two steals, and freshman Brianne Comden with 12 points in her collegiate debut.

The women’s championship game in the tournament on Saturday against The State University of New York College at Cortland was just as successful for the lady Eagles.

Comden played stronger than ever, leading all scorers with 20 points and adding three rebounds. Howland recorded another double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. She was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, while Comden was named to the All-Tournament team.

The men’s basketball team had its fair share of wins this weekend as well. With 1,000 fans gathered in the Anderson Center on Saturday night, the men’s team beat Montclair State University 70-64.

Junior Taylor Johnson scored a game high with 27 points and seized 11 rebounds, and senior Bradley Riester added 21. The win was the 250th in the career of head coach Rod Wood.

Unlike Saturday’s win, the championship game against Eastern Mennonite on Sunday had a slow start.

However, the eagles were able to come back during the second half, improving dramatically and taking the lead in the last 14 minutes of the game, winning against the Royals 77-64.

Riester ended up scoring a game-high with 25 points, including the 1,000th of his career and gained Most Outstanding Player honors.

When asked about the weekend’s events, Wood spoke proudly of the season’s start.

“We played extremely well most of the time. The young kids were thrown into the fire and were not burned, and the upperclassmen showed great leadership,” he said.

Wood also said the crowds in the stands were also supportive, especially on Saturday night.

“I hope it’s like this the rest of the time,” Wood said.