Huntington runs away from Olivet Nazarene in the second half

Everything appeared good-to-go at halftime for the NAIA Division II women's team at Olivet Nazarene. The Tigers led 54-51, and the second half almost always goes the way the team running The System.

Fatigue is the main reason, with the pace more-often-than-not too much for the opponent. Not this time.

Courtney Baker scored 21 of her 23 points following halftime, Amelia Recker and Pazia Speed combined for 29 points after the break and Huntington University ran away to a 121-101 victory Saturday in the final game of the Holiday Inn Express Classic at Olivet Nazarene.

The Foresters also turned it over only six times in the second half, keeping the Tigers from the large advantage in shot attempts all System teams need.

Speed led the way with 27 points and Recker matched Baker's total of 23 for Huntington (4-3).

Miranda Geever had 16 points for Olivet Nazarene (3-4), and Liz Bart and Malory Adam added 11 apiece. The Formula numbers still looked pretty good for coach Lauren Stamatis' team:

• Attempted 101 shots
• Attempted 45 3-pointers
• Rebounded 47 percent of its own misses
• Forced 18 turnovers
• Attempted 21 more shots than the Foresters

The Tigers travel to the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Tuesday, with game time scheduled for 6 p.m. EST.

Fossett, Goodson lead Glenville State to first victory in new conference

The NCAA Division II women's team at Glenville State College changed conferences over the summer, joining the new Mountain East Conference. And the Pioneers, regular season champs of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2012-13, picked up right where they left off, rolling past Shepherd University 130-77 on the road Saturday.

Ashleigh Fossett made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Kenyell Goodson added four 3s and 19 points and five other players reached double figures, as well. That included Tiffani Huffman (17 points, five 3-pointers), Tasia Bistow (17 points), Kenyona Simmons (13), Keyanna Tate (12) and Paige Tuttle (10).

All System stats were a go for Glenville State in this one:

• Attempted 102 shots
• Attempted 52 3-pointers
• Rebounded 45 percent of its own misses
• Forced 45 turnovers
• Attempted 40 more shots than Shepherd

The Pioneers return home to play Fairmont State on Monday, with tip scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST.

Huge rally gives Grinnell victory in Midwest Conference opener

Many non-Division I programs start their conference schedules very early, and the NCAA Division III men's team at Grinnell is no exception. The Pioneers traveled to Illinois College on Saturday to open play in the Midwest Conference, and the early going wasn't very kind to America's Team (yes, that is Grinnell).

The Blueboys (great mascot!) jumped out to an 18-point lead about midway through the first half, but fortunately for us, Coach David Arseneault's team rallied. Jack Taylor scored 30 points and Patrick Maher had 10 of his 29 points in a span about about a minute late in the second half, helping Grinnell beat Illinois College 132-126.

Luke Yeager added 26 points for the Pioneers (4-0, 1-0 MWC). He, Taylor and Maher each had a team-high four assists, as well.

Maher's personal run started with the Blueboys leading 107-102 with about 4 minutes remaining in the game. The senior from Park Ridge, Ill., worked his way inside for a layup while getting a fouled, then completed the and-1 to cut the deficit to two points. Maher then tied the score with another hoop from the paint, then matched a 3 from Illinois College's Zeke Light to make it 110-110.

After Chris Marrs scored for the Blueboys, Maher did it again to tie the score for the final time at 112. Yeager made a three throw and a jumper from beyond the arc to give the Pioneers a four-point advantage, and Illinois College never recovered.

Grinnell is off for a week before traveling to conference rival Beloit College next Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m., EST. 

Olivet Nazarene opens tourney with impressive effort

The NAIA Division II women's team from Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.) got off to a great start in its own Holiday Inn Express Classic, thanks in large part to Liz Bart. The senior from Cary, Ill., made 10 3-pointers and scored 33 points to lead the Tigers past Mid-Continent University 133-92 Friday night.

This is the second time this season that ONU has scored at least 133 points; on Nov. 5, it beat Lindenwood University 138-118.

all System stats from this one were impressive for the Tigers (3-4):

• Attempted 112 shots
• Attempted 71 3-pointers
• Rebounded 44 percent of their own misses
• Forced 39 turnovers
• Attempted 41 more shots that Mid-Continent

Miranda Geever added 21 points, dropped 11 dimes and finished with four of ONU's 26  steals. Others score in double figures were Jessica Gerig (15 points), Jayne Stuart (13) and Taylor Haymes (11).

The Tigers hosts Huntington University on Saturday in the finale of the tournament, with tip scheduled for 4 p.m.  EST at McHie Arena. Best of luck to Coach Lauren Stamatis and her team.