PHILIPPI, W.Va. – After a low-scoring opening half, Tiffin women's basketball ran away from Alderson Broaddus in the second-half to take a 75-61 win on Thursday evening.
With their third-straight victory, the Dragons improve to 7-17 in the GMAC and 10-17 overall. The seven GMAC victories are the most conference victories that the program has achieved since TU won eight GLIAC games during the 2012-13 season.
Tiffin outshot Alderson Broaddus significantly at 53.1% to just 36.8%, and outrebounded the Battlers 39-26. The Dragons also recorded 15 assists to just seven for AB.
TU was led by Annie Santucci's 18 points and four threes off the bench, while Jasmine Watts had a fantastic all-around game with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks to record her fourth double-double of the year. The four blocks also vaults Watts from tenth to seventh all-time at Tiffin for blocks in a single-season as she now has 39.
Georgia Perrott-Hunt also tied her career-high with 14 points and pulled down seven boards. With three assists on the day, Ali Schirmer is now seventh in the Dragon record books with 274 in her career.
The Dragons got on the board first as Allie Miller took a nice drive baseline for a layup. The two teams would trade baskets over much of the opening quarter, with Tiffin holding a 9-8 lead with a minute and a half remaining in the period.
Back-to-back triples from Annie Santucci put TU on a bit of a run, increasing their lead to 15-8, but a pair of Battler free throws brought the advantage back down to five at the end of the quarter.
Alderson Broaddus opened the second period well, tying the game at 17 and then taking a 19-17 lead at the 7:23 mark. TU responded with five-straight points, though, on a Georgia Perrott-Hunt layup and Ali Schirmer triple to take back the lead.
The seesaw battle continued, however, with AB coming back with seven unanswered to put the home team back on top 26-24 with two minutes to play in the half.
The Dragons were able to put an end to the run, and went into the break holding a 31-29 advantage.
The Battlers came out strong in the third quarter, taking a 36-34 lead at the 7:38 mark.
Tiffin was able to regain the lead and hold a three-point advantage, 47-44, with 2:41 remaining in the quarter. The Dragons then went on a run, as Miller and Hiegel nailed back-to-back threes and Sarah Cummings added a pair of free throws to build the lead to nine, 55-46, at the end of the third.
A Watts layup opened the fourth period and gave TU their first double-digit lead of the game. The advantage extended to 14 with 2:29 left as Cummings drained a triple to beat the shot clock, and Tiffin would lead by as many as 16 as they earned the win.
Tiffin will complete their West Virginia road trip by heading to Davis & Elkins on Saturday for their final game of the season.