Lady Pioneers Claim Season Opener

Lady Pioneers Claim Season Opener- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 11/1/22

PARAGOULD, Ark.-  Crowley's Ridge Lady Pioneers hosted the Lady Royals of Ecclesia College (Springdale, Ark.) tonight in their season and home opener. The Lady Pioneers left no doubt as they cruised past the Lady Royals with a 76-52 victory, securing their first win of the season.

Quarter one, CRC came out shooting. The team in green jumped ahead bucketing 12 points before the Royals would finally anwer with a bucket of their own. Sharp shooter junior Mickayla Smith went 2 for 4 from behind the 3 point line, with assists from freshmen Reigiana Ward who herself also added 6 points for the Pioneers. CRC led 21-12 after one quarter of play.

Quarter two, junior Mickayla Smith would add 2 more three balls to her total on the night while shooting 50 percent from behind the arc in this quarter as well. Freshman Hunter Gibson would step up on defense and win 4 defensive rebounds keeping the ball in Pioneer possession. Sophomore Claire Bellers would give the Pioneers a 50-28 lead going into half with a buzzer beater layup ending the second quarter. The Lady Pioneers scored 29 points on a 55.6 percent from the field in quarter two. 

Quarter 3, the Pioneers would produce their lowest shooting percentage of the match and not be able to find a bucket from behind the arc. No fear, for freshmen Reigiana Ward and Brinley Morgan would work inside the arc creating room and producing points for the Pioneers as they would end quarter three up 61-42.

Quarter four, CRC would extend its lead over the Royals. Freshmen Alayzah Foster and senior Octavia Lowery would come off the bench in a big way, combining for 23 points on the night producing almost half of these points in this quarter. The gap would stand as CRC would defeat Ecclesia 76-52. 

Leaders: 5 Lady Pioneers ended with double digit points.

Alayzah Foster led the Pioneers with (13) points. Mickalya Smith and Reigiana Ward chased with (12). Hunter Gibson ended with (11) and Octavia Lowery finished with (10). Brinley Morgan led in steals (7) and Hunter Gibson led in rebounds with (9).

In her college debut, Brinley Morgan broke CRC's record for most steals in a game with (7).   

Up Next: 

CRC takes on WBU Thursday, November 3rd at 5:00pm on their home court in the Carter Activity Center.