WBB: IPFW Routes Western Illinois

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The IPFW women's basketball team picked up their first Summit League win of the season as the Mastodons defeated Western Illinois by the final score of 80-49. Amanda Hyde Erin Murphy and Stefanie Mauk combined to score 63 of IPFW's 80 points.

Hyde scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting while also adding a team-high eight rebounds and six assists. Murphy scored a season-high 21 points and Mauk added 17 helping IPFW defeat Western Illinois.

Mauk went 5-for-6 from the three point line and also grabbed six rebounds for IPFW. Murphy shot a great percentage ending the game 7-for-11.

IPFW held a 35-20 advantage at the half. The Mastodons shot 40 percent from the field, including 43 percent from three point range. Erin Murphy jumped into the starting lineup for the first time this season and responded by scoring 14 first half points. Joining Murphy in the scoring column was Amanda Hyde and Stefanie Mauk who each chipped in with nine points and Haley Seibert who contributed with three.

The Leathernecks scored the first five points of the game, but Mauk quickly put IPFW on the scoreboard with her first 3-point field goal of the first half. The Mastodons tied the game at 10-10 and Hyde gave the team a three point cushion with a three-point field goal.

IPFW used an 8-0 scoring run to turn a 15-12 lead into a 23-12 advantage. Seibert and Murphy each hit 3-point field goals to spark the run. The Mastodons hit seven 3-point field goals in the opening 20 minutes, Murphy was 2-for-2 and Mauk was 3-of-4.

Hyde got off to a hot start in the second half by scoring seven points in the first three minutes of action. IPFW was able to increase their lead to 28 after a 10-0 run, but the Leathernecks responded by cutting the gap to just 20 points with 9:18 remaining. The Mastodons turned up the defensive pressure and regained momentum which allowed the team to earn their first Summit League win of the year.

Full court pressure bothered Western Illinois as the Leathernecks committed 21 turnovers. IPFW turned those mistakes into points as the 'Dons scored 24 points off Leatherneck miscues. The 'Dons shot 52 percent from 3-point range and also won the points in the paint battle 28-12.

IPFW will return to action with a road game at Omaha on Saturday, Jan. 5. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. The next home game for the Mastodons will be on Thursday, Jan. 10 when the North Dakota State Bison visit the Gates Sports Center at 7 p.m.