MIDWAY, Ky. -- Point Park University women's basketball went on the road to earn a 73-70 win at Midway (Ky.) University on Thursday night. Freshman forward Taylor Rinn posted 26 points and 15 rebounds to power the Pioneers (10-7, 1-3 RSC) to the River States Conference East-West Division crossover victory versus the Eagles (11-3, 2-2 RSC).
Rinn had a near double-double of 17 points and nine rebounds in the first half alone as Point Park built a 40-30 lead at the break. The 5-9 forward from Akron, Ohio, surpassed her previous career-high of 23 points and was just off her high of 18 boards earlier this year.
Midway, which entered the game at 11-2 overall, made a move in the third quarter and cut the score to 55-49 after three. The Eagles later drew even at 59-59 on a pair of free throws by Sierra Graham with 5:40 left in the game.
That's when Rinn and teammate Michelle Burns took over. The duo combined for all of the points in the Pioneers' 11-2 run that put the visitors up, 70-61, with 2:10 left. Rinn broke the tie with an old-fashioned 3-point play. Burns followed that up a conventional 3-point play of her own, which came on a tough drive.
Burns, who had 16 points and made three treys, then drained a 3-pointer. Rinn, who has seven double-doubles in her last 11 games, scored on an offensive rebound to cap the spurt.
Defense was a key factor in the Pioneers taking control as well. Midway missed its next four field goals after tying the game. The Eagles had just two more baskets after the 59-59 tie, one of which came in the closing seconds to make the final score, 73-70.
Midway was held to 36-percent shooting, which included 3 for 12 in the fourth quarter. The Eagles did make 21 of 25 from the foul line -- including 14 for 16 in the final quarter -- to get a big chunk from the stripe. The Pioneers were 14 for 20 from the line, including 7 for 10 in the fourth.
Point Park shot 41 percent from the field. It was a team effort in the scoring column with Tyra James scoring nine points, Lexi Petit eight and Taylor Kirschner seven. Those three combined to make 9 of 10 free throws in the game, including several in the final minutes.
The Pioneers won the rebounding, 43-35, with Rinn leading the way. Carly Lutz pulled down seven rebounds, including five offensive. She also picked up three assists, of which a couple of those were finding her teammates for second-chance 3-pointers.
Midway had four players score in double figures led by guard Haleigh Yazell with 16 points and 4 for 8 from long range. Guard Kindall Talley scored 13, and forward Jill Enix added 13 rebounds and seven boards. Graham scored 13 off the bench.
Point Park is off this coming weekend and will be back in action at home on Tuesday, Jan. 14 versus IU East. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. at the Pioneers' home court of CCAC-Allegheny. Follow the Pioneers onlne at PointParkSports.com and on social media @PointParkSports and @PointParkWBB hashtags #PPUWBB and #PPUHOOPS
