Anderson, S.C. – The Anderson University women's basketball team (10-8, 10-4 SAC) led wire-to-wire defeating South Atlantic opponent Mars Hill (1-14, 1-11 SAC) for the 12th straight time, 74-44, on Wednesday evening at the Abney Athletic Center.
"It is always good to bounce back with a win and it was nice to see a couple players step up with some excellent performances," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "I'm not sure I've ever seen 3 double doubles before."
"Hopefully, we can build on that and gain some momentum moving forward," added Barbaree.
Anderson's Shameka McNeill scored a game-high 25 points and chased down 11 rebounds to record her second double-double of the season. The league's leading scorer hit her first four shots of the game, which were all three-point baskets to help boost the Trojans to a first quarter advantage, 27-9. Freshman Diamond McDowell recorded her third double-double of the season dropping in a career-high 17 points and ripping down 10 rebounds. McDowell was also credited for five assists on the night. Graduate Samantha Michel joined McNeill and McDowell recording her first double-double of the season with a season-high 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. Michel also swatted a career-high seven blocked shots, amassing a two-year career total of 82 blocks which ranks seventh all-time in AU's history books. Junior guard Brittney Stafford chipped in seven points, pulled down eight rebounds, dished out five assists and had four steals in the Trojans route.
Mars Hill placed two players in double-digit scoring with De'ja Marshall netting a team-high 18 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Reserve Maddie Gillie knock down 14 points for the Lions. Gillie shot 4-of-16 from the field, hitting 6-of-7 foul shots.
Anderson used an 11-0 run to start the game to set the tone for the night. McNeill began the game making three three-point baskets followed by a layup by McDowell to lead by 11 with 6:33 remaining in the first period. After three straight jumpers by Mars Hill's Marshall, McNeill buried her fourth three-point basket in a row to start another Anderson push eventually leading the Trojans to an 18-point first quarter lead.
Mars Hill found some rhythm in the second quarter, while Anderson cooled down from its 57.9% shooting from the field to 12.5% (2-of-16). The Lions were able to cut into the Trojans lead heading into the half down 11, 33-22.
The Black and Gold used the energy from Michel's five second half blocked shots and freshman Martyna Radzicka's hustle collecting three rebounds and blocking a shot of her own to outpace the Lions, 41-22, in the second half of action.
For the night, Anderson scored 42 points in the paint and ripped down a season-high 60 rebounds. Its previous high was 55 against the Lions earlier in the season.
Anderson returns to action on Saturday when it travels to SAC opponent Limestone. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm.
