Women's Basketball Dominates the Glass in 75-51 Win at Columbia (S.C.)

By Press release submission

Oct 29, 2021

Keiser University issued the following announcement on Oct. 28.

GAME INFORMATION

Score: Keiser 75, Columbia College (S.C.) 51

Records: Keiser (2-0), Columbia College (S.C.) (0-1)

Location: Porter Gymnasium (Columbia, S.C.)

Keiser Starters: Shykim Gillion (G), Chiara De Virgilio (G), Andressa Nascimento (F), Kaitlyn Fertig (F), Angela Denis (C).

The Seahawks improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 75-51 win at Columbia College (S.C.). Keiser out-rebounded the Koalas, 72-33, en route to the 24-point, road victory. The 72 rebounds were a single-game record for the Seahawks. Double-doubles by Elise Ellison-Coons (19 pts., 13 reb.) and Angela Denis (18 pts., 15 reb.) led Keiser to its second straight win to start 2021-22.

TURNING POINT

The Seahawks went on a 14-3 run in the final five minutes of the first quarter to take a double-digit lead - a lead that remained in double-figures for the remainder of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST QUARTER

Keiser 26 Columbia College (S.C.) 13

The Koalas hit two treys early in the first quarter to take a 6-2 lead. The four-point lead at 9:07 on the clock was Columbia College's largest lead of the game.

A three-point play by Elise Ellison-Coons at the 5:22 mark capped an 11-2 run by the Seahawks, giving KU a 12-8 lead.

The Seahawks used a 14-3 run to close out the quarter and take a 26-13 lead after 10 minutes of play.

SECOND QUARTER

Keiser 40, Columbia College (S.C.) 17

Both teams struggled to convert a bucket to start the second quarter until Denis made a layup with 7:55 on the clock to extend the Seahawks lead to 28-13.

Keiser held the Koalas to just two baskets in the quarter, including its final bucket of the quarter with a layup at the 3:15 mark of the frame, cutting the KU lead to 32-17.

Julia Fitzwater drained a 3-pointer with 3:03 on the clock to give Keiser its then-largest lead, 35-17.

Ellison-Coons scored the final five points of the half for the Seahawks as KU entered intermission with a 40-17 lead.

THIRD QUARTER

Keiser 58, Columbia College (S.C.) 39

Columbia College came out of the break, looking to get back into the contest.

The Koalas used a 9-2 run, pulling within 15 following a 3-pointer by Carnasia Wells with 6:37 left in the third.

A layup by Shykim Gillion pushed the Keiser lead over 20 with 1:55 on the clock.

Elliana Schaefer scored the team's 50th point with a fast break layup after forcing a Columbia College turnover at the 2:32 mark.

Each team added eight points to the scoreboard in the final few minutes of the quarter as KU took a 58-39 lead into the final 10 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER

Keiser 75, Columbia College (S.C.) 51

The fourth saw both teams exchange baskets for most of the quarter.

A pair of free throws by Columbia College's Wynter Webb with 3:34 left, cut KU's lead to 15 (66-51).

However, the Seahawks went on a 9-0 run to close out the game, 75-51.

GAME NOTES

With the win, Keiser evens the all-time series history to 1-1.

Thursday's improves the Seahawks to 2-0 to start the season, marking the fourth time in program history a KU team has opened the year 2-0. It is the first time since the 2017-18 season KU has started 2-0.

With 75 points on Thursday, Keiser improved its scoring average versus Columbia College (S.C.) to 66.5 points per game (two games).

With the 75 points scored, KU is now averaging 71.5 points per game with a margin of victory of +28.5 this season.

Head Coach Pam Oswald

"I think we definitely tightened some things up from last night's game. We looked to share the ball, even more so than yesterday. We are also working on the fundamentals of our offense; being able to see the back cuts; being able to see some of the cutting off our post player; I really feel like our team chemistry is getting better. I'd still like to see our turnover numbers down but when you want to play fast, you've got to take some of that with it. Heck of a job on the boards tonight. I think our post kids really cleaned up well and I'm just looking forward to seeing what's down the road. "

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Keiser out-rebounded Columbia College (S.C.), 72-33.

The 72 total rebounds by the Seahawks set a school record for rebounds in a game.

KU grabbed 35 offensive rebounds - more than the total number of rebounds by the Koalas.

The Seahawks shot 36.8 percent from the floor (22-of-71) while Columbia College (S.C.) shot 29.4 from the field (19-of-63).

Keiser took advantage of its chances at the free-throw line, converting 27-of-36 from the charity stripe.

The Seahawks scored 16 points off of 22 Koala turnovers.

Both Elise Ellison-Coons (19 pts., 13 reb.) and Angela Denis (18 pts., 15 reb.) recorded Keiser's first double-doubles of the 2021-22 season.

Ties: 1

Lead Changes: 3

Largest Lead: Keiser (24); Columbia College (S.C) (4)

TEAM LEADERS