PARKSIDE 76, PURDUE NORTHWEST 56
The Parkside women's basketball team improved to 2-1 in conference play as the team defeated Purdue Northwest at De Simone Gymnasium Saturday afternoon in the team's GLIAC home-opener. The Rangers finished with a balanced scoring attack as four players finished in double-figures.
 
HEAR FROM COACH CONELY (Click the link for the postgame interview)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Parkside started out hot in the first quarter, jumping out to a 13-5 lead midway through the opening quarter. After the Pride made it a 2-point Parkside lead, the Rangers ended the first on a 14-4 run that included a trio of triples in the final 1:38. PNW battled back in the second quarter, cutting into the Parkside lead and making it 37-32 at the half.
 
The Rangers put the game out of reach in the third quarter, outscoring PNW 22-10 and taking a 17-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, Parkside pushed its lead to 20 points and kept it there the rest of the way.
 
BOX SCORE
Carolina Rahkonen led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and a perfect 5-for-5 game at the free-throw line. It was her third straight game in double-figures. Taylor Stephen had 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting while Claire Jakaitis and Courtney Schoenbeck each had 11 off the bench and each hit three 3-pointers.
 
Parkside shot 45.6-percent and went 11-of-38 from beyond the arc while holding the Pride to 34.1-percent shooting and 2-of-11 from deep. The Rangers went +7 in rebounding and were +4 in the turnover battle.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rangers will enjoy the long holiday break and return to action on Thursday, Jan. 2 with a road matchup with Northwood. They host Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, Jan. 4 on Alumni Day.