Three of five Bradley Central starters scored in double figures, led by junior Rhyne Howard’s 18 points, and the Bearettes defeated Maryville 56-52 Tuesday night to remain undefeated after six games to open the 2016-17 basketball season.
Howard, who recently narrowed her college choices to Florida, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Purdue and South Carolina (in alphabetical order), made 6 of 11 shots from the floor, including 3 of 5 from 3-point distance, and grabbed seven rebounds in another stellar performance.
Howard also had three steals and two assists.
Despite 2 of 12 shooting senior Halle Hughes, the team’s leading scorer with an 18.3-point average, scored 15 points and added five rebounds. She was 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. Hughes also had two assists, two steals and six turnovers.
Hughes now has 1,348 career points and Howard stands at 1,207. They rank 15th and 18th on the Bearettes’ all-time scoring list.
Senior Emma Kate Brown added 12 points for Bradley.
Lindsey Taylor scored 14 points to pace the Lady Rebels (3-2). Courtney Carruthers had 13 points and Olivia Pepperman added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Lindsey turned the ball over five times.
Maryville hit 21 of 40 shots (52.5 percent) while the Bearettes made 17 of 42 from the field (40.5 percent), including 6 of 16 (37.5) in the second half.
The Lady Rebels had a 30-29 halftime lead and increased the margin to 44-37 after three quarters. The Bearettes outscored Maryville 19-8 in the final period to keep their season-starting record unblemished.
Maryville led by 48-40 with 6:49 left in the game, but Howard’s basket trimmed the Bearettes’ deficit to 48-43. Howard, who is averaging 16.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, scored again and the Bearettes were down by three points with 4:32 remaining.
Hughes made two free throws 59 seconds apart and Bradley’s deficit was 48-47. Brown’s field goal in the paint gave the Bearettes a 49-48 lead at the 2:15 mark.
The Bearettes outscored the Lady Rebels 8-3 down the stretch to seal the win.
Summary
Bradley Central 8 21 8 19 – 56
Maryville 18 12 14 8 – 52
Bradley Central (56) – Halle Hughes 15, Brown 10, Morgan 5, Rhyne Howard 18, McRee, Carter 7, Lombard 1, Walker.
Maryville (52) – Anderson 5, Courtney Carruthers 13, Ray 7, Olivia Pepperman 11, Lindsey Taylor 14, Cunningham 2, Spears.
3-Point Goals – Bradley Central 6 (Howard 3, Hughes 2, Morgan 1), Maryville 6 (Carruthers 3, Anderson 1, Ray 1, Pepperman 1).
(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)