MC women open season with 81-71 loss to Kalamazoo

Nov. 18, 2005
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Marietta College women's basketball team suffered an 81-71 defeat at the hands of host Kalamazoo (Mich.) in its 2005-06 season opener at the Hornet Tip-off Classic Friday (Nov. 18) night.

The Pioneers led by as many as eight points early in the first half but trailed 39-37 at intermission, even though they shot 17-of-31 (.548) during the first 20 minutes.

The Hornets would not relinquish the lead in the second half, as the Pioneers' shooting success cooled off. The result was a 10-point victory for Kalamazoo.

The Pioneers finished the evening shooting 28-of-66 (.424), while the Hornets went 29-of-61 (.475). Marietta won the turnover battle by forcing 19 turnovers and committing 14, but Kalamazoo dominated the boards, 51-29.

Marietta sophomore Justine Pagenhardt (Oakland, Md./Southern Garrett) picked up right where she left off last season, finishing with a game-high 24 points. The guard shot 10-of-19 from the field and connected on 2-of-3 three-pointers before fouling out with 2:05 to play in the game.

Sophomore Abby Hess (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) also had a solid performance on opening night. She finished with a double-double, 12 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with four steals and one block. Nine of her boards came at the defensive end of the court.

Freshman guard Kortney Reed (Columbus/Hilliard Darby) added 12 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in her first collegiate game.

All five of Kalamazoo's starters and one player off the bench finished in double figures. Stephanie Salasky paced the Hornets with 14 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

Marietta will look for a victory in Saturday's consolation game against Finlandia (Mich.), who fell to Wisconsin-River Falls 95-61 in the other opening round game. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.

Sophomore Justine Pagenhardt had a game-high 24 points Friday

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