PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Defending home turf is key if a team wants to have a chance at making a push toward championship heights.
The women's basketball program at Shawnee State has certainly done its part protecting Waller Gymnasium -- and against formidable opposition, at that.
Just eight days after taking down No. 8 Rio Grande at Waller Gymnasium by an 81-73 margin, (RV) Shawnee State knocked off another key River States Conference player at home, avenging a 74-70 road loss at Midway last season by holding the Eagles to just 19-of-58 shooting (32.4 percent) in a 72-56 victory Saturday evening at Waller Gymnasium in Portsmouth.
Game Summary
Shawnee State (11-3, 4-0 River States Conference) trailed by margins of 7-0 and 11-5 to begin the game against Midway -- but over the final four minutes of the opening quarter, the Bears turned up the dial as Shawnee State went on a 12-2 run to end the frame ahead by a 17-13 count.
Midway (8-7, 2-2 River States Conference) -- who shot 38.5 percent during the first quarter -- was then held to 4-of-25 shooting combined over the second and third quarters of action by Shawnee State, whose stifling defense during those stanzas forced the Eagles to settle for an ice-cold 16.6 percent shooting mark between those frames.
SSU also forced 11 of Midway's 18 turnovers during the second and third frames of action -- and claimed a massive plus-19 rebounding advantage (44-25) for the game, including a plus-11 rebounding edge (23-12) in the second and third quarters alone.
The win is Shawnee State's fourth straight -- and moves the Bears to a 7-0 record at home for the 2024-25 season to date.
Maynard posts career-high 14 in Bears' win
A key piece to Shawnee State's culture, Shawnee State sophomore Emily Maynard had her day in the sun from a scoring standpoint, as the 5-11 talent dropped in 14 points, two assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block on 5-of-10 shooting in a team-high 35 minutes of playing time.
Maynard scored all 14 of her points in the opening three quarters of action with 11 coming in the second and third stanzas alone. The Greenup County High School graduate went 4-of-7 from the field between those two quarters alone to help SSU outscore Midway 39-15 between those frames.
Ellis gellin' with starting crew
A 5-5 junior guard who just keeps coming at opponents, Miyoshi Ellis dropped in 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes while enjoying yet another productive floor game.
Ellis posted five points, three rebounds and two assists in the opening quarter alone, playing a huge part in Shawnee State rallying back from the previously mentioned 11-5 first quarter deficit to take a 17-13 lead after the first frame as the guard scored or assisted on 10 of the Bears' 17 tallies in the first 10 minutes of action -- then added seven points in the final quarter, five coming off of makes from the charity stripe, to help seal the deal.
Additional
Shawnee State senior forward Cianna Gloster and SSU junior forward Lauren Hawthorne enjoyed productive days in different ways -- as Gloster ripped up Midway's frontline for 16 points while also playing passing lanes effectively en route to five steals. The senior also chipped in eight points to boot. Hawthorne, meanwhile, posted nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal -- all while going 4-of-4 from the field in Sunday's 16-point win.
Starting hands Sanaya Gregory and Jariah Steele combined for 14 points and four rebounds while Jada Johnson collected six points off of the bench. Laken Williams set the table in fine fashion with four assists and also grabbed six rebounds, while Lexi Deaver added in a pair of free throws to finish off the main contributors.
