Third quarter offensive explosion carries Pride to comfortable win over Baker

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Entering into the 2023 calendar year with a return to Heart of America Athletic Conference play, the Clarke University women's basketball team earned a 72-59 win over Baker University on Tuesday afternoon.

The Pride and Wildcats kept it close through the opening 20 minutes as Baker was just down two points at 26-24 at the halftime break as the Pride struggled offensively in the half shooting 9-of-36 (25%) and 3-of-16 (18.8%)in the second quarter, only scoring nine points in that period.

CU made strong halftime adjustments as they were extremely efficient on the offensive end in the third quarter, outscoring Baker 25-11 to head into the final quarter with a 51-35 lead while they shot 8-of-12 (66/7%) from the field and 8-of-11 (72.7%) from the free throw line.

During that third quarter, head coach Courtney Boyd adjusted the Pride lineup to play a little smaller than they were accustomed to due to health and foul trouble in the post as Clarke used any combination of Skylar Culbertson, Nicole McDermott, Tina Ubl, Mya Merschman, Madison Lindauer, Giana Michels, and Izzie Peterson with both Emma Kelchen and Taylor Haase off of the floor for extended periods.

Ubl and Merschman used the small-ball lineup to their advantage combining to score 20 of the team's 46 second half points with both seeing significant time at the five position as the tallest CU player on the court at different times. Both finished in double figures with Ubl scoring a game-high 17 points while adding six rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block in the game as Merschman scored 12 points off the bench while adding four rebounds and an assist.

With today's performance, Ubl is now on a six-game streak of scoring in double figures and leading the team in scoring as that stretch extends to seven of her last eight games after starting the season scoring under 10 points in her first six and seven of the first eight.

Along with Merschman's 12, McDermott also finished with 12 points, scoring nine of her 12 in the second half with the junior guard finishing with 12 rebound as well for her second double-double of the season as she also added two assists and two steals.

Baker had four players in double figures led by 15 from Leah Van Weelden as Ainsley Tolson, Emma Cunningham, and Sophia Barrett all added 11 points for the Wildcats.

Clarke will hit the road for their next game as they will be in Springfield, Mo. this Saturday for a matchup with Evangel University at 12:00 p.m. CT.