Women's Basketball Dominates Friends in Season Opener
Hastings, NE – The Hastings College women’s basketball team used a big second half to pull away for the 73-47 victory over Friends University to open the 2023-24 campaign.
Hastings, NE – The Hastings College women's basketball team used a big second half to pull away for the 73-47 victory over Friends University to open the 2023-24 campaign.
The Lady Broncos were able to jump out to a quick 19-8 lead but the Falcons come back in the second quarter and eventually took a brief lead at 29-27 with 2:50 to go in the first half. But graduate transfer Lexi Kraft buried a three to put HC right back on top. After free throws from both sides made it 33-30, Kraft sent a nice pass that Alyssa Baker put away for an and-one and after the free-throw, Hastings led 36-30 at halftime.
To start the second half, Hastings quickly moved the lead to double digits as Kiernan Paulk put home a reverse layup and then Tathis Arredondo found Rachel Goodon on the low block for the layup as Hastings now led 40-30 just a minute and a half into the third quarter. The lead continued to grow when Mariyah Avila knocked down a mid-range jumper to make it 42-30.
Friends would only get the deficit down to single digits one more time as Hastings outscored the Falcons 37-17 in the second half.
Paulk led the way with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting while pulling down six boards. Gooden and Baker each finished with 10 points while Avila added nine points. Alexis Tapia finished with eight while Arredondo ended with seven points and Kraft added six points in the win.
Hastings shot nearly 51 percent (31-for-61) from the floor while holding the Falcons to just 26 percent (15-for-57). Hastings also won the rebounding battle at 44-to-36. Alexis Folkers led the way with five assists off the bench.
Hastings is now 1-0 on the year and will be back in action Friday Nov. 3 taking part in the Hastings Classic as Bethel (KS) comes to town with tipoff set for 5:00 pm inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
