Bailey White (SR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) had a career night to lead the College of Saint Mary basketball team to a season-opening win Thursday.
The Flames defeated Iowa Wesleyan University 60-51 in the CSM Classic. In the other game Thursday, Waldorf University came from behind to knock off York University 57-53.
White poured in a game-high 21 points, including five 3-pointers to lead the Flames. The senior's previous career high was 17.
"Coach talked to me about being more confident this year and being ready to shoot," White said. "My teammates did a great job of finding me."
White said beating a team that was in the NAIA National Tournament last season is a great way to kick off the 2022-2023 season.
"We knew they were in the national tournament last year and so it was really exciting to beat them," White said.
The Flames led all but once early in the opening quarter. CSM outscored the Tigers 14-12 in the first quarter and then 16-7 in the second quarter for a 30-19 halftime lead.
But with CSM's Sidney Anderson (SO/Omaha, Neb.) sitting most of the third quarter in foul trouble, Iowa Wesleyan found a way to get back in the game. The Flames outscored the Tigers by just a point – 13 to 12 – in the third quarter and then actually bested CSM 20-17 in the fourth quarter.
Madelyn Turner (SR/Bennington, Neb.) tossed in nine points for CSM, while Anderson finished with eight and both Allison Schubert (JR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) and Morgann Worden (FR/Laramie, Wyo.) finished with six. Anderson and Clare Lewandowski (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) both grabbed 10 rebounds and Kenzi Hoit (SR/Omaha, Neb.) pulled down seven.
"I felt we really competed from the start of the game," CSM Coach Kirk Walker said. "Our defensive intensity was really good all night. Everyone was engaged and ready to play when their number was called.
"Obviously Bailey really shot it well and is ready to be a major contributor this year. But we also had key 3-pointers from Allisa (Schubert) and Kenzi when Iowa Wesleyan was making runs. Clare and Sid did a great job on the glass and Kenzi was also a factor with seven boards from the guard spot."
CSM shot 40 percent for the game and Iowa Wesleyan shot 28 percent. The Flames had 17 turnovers and Iowa Wesleyan finished with 13.
The Flames (1-0) play again Friday in the second day of the CSM Classic. College of Saint Mary plays Waldorf at 6 p.m. with York and Iowa Wesleyan squaring off at 4 p.m.
"We need to clean up some things offensively," Walker said. "We need to do a better job of keeping the other team off the offensive boards and we need to get to the line more. But if we play with this type of defensive intensity each night, we'll be in good shape.
"This was a quality win out of the chute."
Original source can be found here.
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