BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — A challenge was made.
Allen County Community College’s women stepped up to it Wednesday night. The Red Devils recorded their first road win of the 2011-2012 basketball season with a 55-34 win over Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
“(Assistant) Coach (Aubrey) Jones and I challenged our team to go 4-0 in our last little portion of the non-conference schedule. They answered that challenge tonight,” said Mark James, ACCC women’s head coach.
Sophomore Rackell Goldson paced the Red Devils with a 22-point performance, which tied her career-high. She hit two of the team’s six three-point field goals and went 4 of 6 at the free-throw line.
Allen County took care of the basketball with only nine turnovers while forcing the Owls into 23 turnovers. The Red Devils controlled things on the backboards with a 44 to 28 rebounding advantage.
“Rackell took really good shots in the flow of the offense. Tonight, our team defense was the star of the game. In today’s shot clock era, it’s pretty tough to hold a college basketball team to 34 points,” James said.
The Red Devils were up by 10 points, 30-20, at halftime. They held the Owls to just 14 points in the second half while scoring 25 points.
James said the Red Devils played relaxed from the opening tip and everyone was able to get significant playing time. He said the win helped erase the feeling from the tough home loss to Pratt last week.
The Red Devils shot 38 percent, 20 of 52, from the field and dropped in 9 of 13 free throw attempts. Oklahoma Wesleyan was 13 of 57, 25 percent, from the field and went 4 of 6 at the line.
Allen County had 15 steals led by Miracle Davis with four and Kayla Morton with three. Davis dished out six of the team’s 15 assists plus scored six points and led the team with eight rebounds. Morton pulled down seven rebounds and had four points.
Brittney Redmond added seven points and Jamie Peel scored five. Hannah Blackwell had four points and five rebounds. Ebonie Jones and Maggie Stitham each had three points and Endesha Flanigan had one point. Johnnea Saulsberry blocked two shots.
“This was the first step and our second step is Saturday at Hesston, which is fresh off an overtime win over Barton County. We’ll need to bring this type of effort again this weekend on the road,” James said.
Allen County is 3-6 overall.
Red Devil women claim road win
