SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The No. 15 Angelo State women's basketball improved to 2-0 on the season with an 86-67 win over Minnesota-Crookston at the St. Mary's Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon in San Antonio.
The Belles (2-0) shot a season high 52.3-percent from the field and scored 22 points off 16 turnovers. ASU dominated in the paint with 52 points compared to just 28 for Minnesota Crookston (0-3) and received 23 points from the bench.
Taylor Dorsey led all scorers with a season high 30 points. It is the senior's fourth career game with at least 30 points. Jasmine Prophet added 15 points and seven rebounds while Lexi Murphy chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
"Today was a solid win," Angelo State head women's basketball coach Kevin Baker said. "Minnesota-Crookston is a very well coached team and we had to play well to be successful. We had sever player's step up and play some key minutes for us. We are a better team when we can go deep in to our bench and get great contributions from each player. I look for a very tough game with a very physical East Central team."
The second quarter was pivotal for the Belles limiting Minnesota-Crookston to just eight points. The Golden Eagles were held to 18.8-percent shooting as Angelo State scored 24 points to build a 48-28 lead at halftime. A quick 5-0 run highlighted by an old fashioned three point play by Dorsey pushed the lead to 11 at 33-22. A jumper by Lexi Murphy at the 3:29 mark extended the lead to 11. The bucket sparked an 11-0 run with Dorsey and Murphy combining for nine of the 11 points to close out the half.
ASU built a 24-20 lead in the first quarter hitting 53.8-percent from the field. The Belles also was able to get to the free throw line 16 times hitting nine. Tied at eight halfway through the first quarter, Dorsey hit a layup to start an 8-0 run. Keanna Kelly was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three followed up by a three pointer by Dorsey to increase the lead to 16-8. The Golden Eagles trimmed the lead to four points but Madi Greenwood hit layup and was fouled and sank the free throw to make it 24-15. Minnesota Crookston scored the last five points of the quarter to trim the lead to 24-20.
The second half was near even with the Belles only letting Minnesota Crookston come within one point off the halftime lead. The closest Minneosta-Crookston would get in the second half was 69-56 at the 7:14 mark of the fourth quarter. The Belles responded with a 15-4 run to build its biggest lead of the game at 84-60.
The Belles will make its debut at Stephens Arena at the Junell Center and host Texas A&M-Kingsville for their Lone Star Conference opener on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 5:30 p.m.
