BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Allen Community College’s women got the 2012-13 season off to a roaring start Thursday, racing to a double-digit lead by halftime of an 85-61 victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan.
“I don’t know that we played extremely well, but I’ve learned it’s too hard to win in college basketball games to apologize for any win you get,” Red Devil head coach Mark James said. “We have some areas that still need some work, but the good thing is we have some time to fix them.”
There is plenty for the Red Devils to work from. Allen forced 26 Eagle turnovers, while committing only nine. The Red Devils also registered 20 assists from the team’s 28 field goals.
The style “demonstrates a pretty unselfish attitude,” James said.
Sophomore DaNara Day led Allen with 16 points, one of four Red Devils to score in double figures. Hannah Blackwell followed with 14 points and seven rebounds. Brittney Redmond scored 12, all on 3-pointers, and Ebonie Jones netted 11 points with six assists, three steals and only a single turnover. Leslie Ware registered five steals and a pair of blocked shots. Miracle Davis chipped in with eight points, five assists and three steals.
Iola native Kendra Taiclet scored three points with two rebounds in her collegiate debut for Allen.
The Red Devils shot 37 percent
As an aside, Thursday’s 1 p.m. tip-off meant Allen was the first NJCAA team to play this year, “so that was somewhat fun,” James said.
Several other schools tipped off later in the day, including the Red Devil men at Hutchinson.
Allen’s women will travel to Trenton, Mo., this afternoon for a 2 o’clock game at North Central Missouri.
Allen (40-45—85)
Oklahoma Wesleyan (29-32—61)
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP) — Jones 4/1-0-0-11, Saulsberry 0-0-2-0, Davis 3-2-0-8, Morton 1-2-0-4, Day 3/2-4-3-16, Flanigan 0-0-2-0, Redmond 0/4-0-2-12, Peel 0/1-2-2-5, Taiclet 0-3-1-3, Ware 1-0-2-2, Blackwell 5-4-2-14, Hall 2-2-2-6, Molisee 1-2-0-4. TOTALS: 20/8-21-17-85.
Red Devil women win opener
