By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Mackenzie Heacock nearly tied the single game scoring record as the Express women's basketball team defeated Lakeland Community College 118-33 in the SHAC tonight.
Heacock, by herself, matched Lakeland's entire team in scoring. While finishing just three points away from tying Amy Amstutz's single game mark of 36, she went 12-for-21 overall from the field, 6-for-13 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 from the foul line.
She added seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.
The Express jumped out to a 56-12 lead at halftime. With 14:12 remaining in the first half, the Express led 10-6, but finished the half on a 46-6 run. In the half's final three minutes, the Express outscored Lakeland 13-2.
In the first three minutes of the second half, the Express went on an 8-2 run. After Lakeland's Elizabeth Gulliford made a jumper at the 16:41 mark to make it 64-16, the Express went on another run, 13-1, to lead 77-17 with 12:41 remaining. Their largest lead was the game's final margin (85), which broke the single game record for largest margin of victory.
Emma-Jean Ricketts nearly tied Heacock for the team-high in scoring. The sophomore finished with a career-high 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. She finished 11-for-17 overall from the field, 2-for-4 from 3-point range and 6-for-7 from the foul line.
As a team, the Express tied the single game record with 33 steals. Six players had at least four steals - led by a team-high eight from Jordyn Bond.
Bond actually approached a triple-double as she finished 10 points, a team-high nine rebounds and four assists in addition to those eight steals.
Karahn Scott added 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals, while Breonna House had 11 points off the bench.
Eboni Adams, who had a team-high eight assists, totaled eight points, four rebounds, six steals and one block.
As a team, the Express shot 46-for-77 (59.7 percent) overall, 9-for-22 (40.9 percent) from 3-point range and 17-for-21 (81 percent) from the foul line.
It marked the first time the Express have shot better than 50 percent from the field this year, and it also broke the old single game mark of 58.7 percent vs Cuyahoga CC on Feb. 10, 1996.
Additionally, the team's 46 made field goals was two short of the single game record, while the 62 second half points for the Express were two short of tying the record for most points in one half. They also had 32 assists, just three short of the single game mark.
The Express held advantages in points off turnovers (54-6), points in the paint (72-16), second chance points (15-6) and bench points (22-7).
Lakeland was led by Lamia Whitfield and Tierra Martin, who each had 10 points. The Lakers committed 39 turnovers - led by 13 from Whitfield. They are now 4-13 overall and 0-3 in the OCCAC, and they have lost five consecutive games.
Up Next
The Express are now 15-6 overall and 3-1 in OCCAC play. With Cincinnati State's loss to Columbus State tonight, they are now tied with the Surge for second place in the conference behind undefeated Columbus State.
The Express, who have won five of their last six games, will have off until next Wednesday when they travel to Piqua, OH for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against Edison Community College.
Notes
Ricketts now has 750 career points. She passed Teresa Miller (734, 1992-95) and Angie Phegley (747, 2000-02) on the career scoring list and now sits in 14th place.
Additionally, Ricketts now has 343 career rebounds. In the past two games alone, she has 24 rebounds, including a career-high 18 against Cincinnati State.
Heacock now has 461 career points. She passed Stacie Cousino (432), Cynthia Avalos (441), Jana Babyak (444), Misti Horton (450) and Erin Bartley (453) on the career scoring list tonight. She sits in 39th place in career scoring.
In OCCAC play, Heacock is the team's leading scorer at 20.8 points per game. She has also averaged four rebounds and three assists in those four games.
Ricketts is second on the team in scoring in OCCAC play at 20 points per game, while also leading the team at 9.3 rebounds per contest. Additionally, she has added three assists and just over two steals per contest.
Scott now has 371 career points and 356 career rebounds. With two more points, she will crack the top 50 on the career scoring list.