Offense stays hot in Pride's 91-83 win over Graceland

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Just two days after a 97-point performances against Peru State, the Clarke University women's basketball team passed the 90-point threshold again in a 91-83 victory over Graceland University on Wednesday night in the Kehl Center.

Following a first quarter that saw CU trail by one after 10 minutes, a 31-19 second quarter and a 25-17 third allowed the Pride to cruise their way to the eight-point win despite a late push from the Yellowjackets.

Clarke was led by the career-high tying performance from Nicole McDermott, whose 31 points and 10 rebounds led all players in both categories as she recorded her ninth double-double of the season while shooting 9-of-16 (56.3%) from the field, 3-for-3 from three point range, and 10-for-11 from the free throw line as she added three steals and two assists.

Mya Merschman produced her second-straight 20-point night as she finished with 23 points on 6-of-15 (40%) shooting while hitting three of her seven three point attempts and finishing a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. 

Not quite matching their record-setting three point performance from Monday, the Pride hit 12 of their 34 three point attempts (35.3%) as Graceland only attempted 14 shots from beyond the arc to only hit three as both Taylor Norris and Madison Lindauer spaced the floor for the Pride off the bench, both hitting multiple three pointers as Norris made four to score 12 points and Lindauer added two triples and a pair of two point field goals for a 10-point night.

Graceland played a zone defense for a majority of the night, leading to the high three point attempts but also a significant advantage in second chance points as CU grabbed 19 offensive rebounds for 30 second chance points where the Yellowjackets only produced 11 points off of offensive boards.

Four players finished the game in double figures for the Yellowjackets as well, led by 25 from Alana Swift as she went 11-for-15 (73.3%) from the field but all from two-point shots as she was supported by 17 from Trinity Greenwood off the bench, 14 from Avery Walker-Henry, and 10 from Heaven Mbaruk.

This game ends a three-game homestand for Clarke women's basketball as they'll head on the road this Saturday for their second meeting of the season against MidAmerica Nazarene University for a 12:00 p.m. CT schedule tip in Olathe, Kan. between the Pride and Pioneers.