No. 18 Rio Grande (Ohio) hangs on for 86-79 win over Point Park

PITTSBURGH -- No. 18-ranked University of Rio Grande (Ohio) came away with an 86-79 win over Point Park University in a River States Conference women's basketball game on Tuesday night from CCAC-Allegheny. 

Rio Grande (20-4, 13-0 RSC) stayed unbeaten in the conference with a key run at the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth that proved to be a difference over Point Park (16-6, 9-4 RSC). 

In a game that was tied nine times and had eight lead changes, Point Park had some big baskets to tie things up at 55-55 and 57-57 late in the third. But Rio Grande scored the final six points of the quarter, including a fast-break basket by Aleea Crites at the buzzer to inch out in front, 63-57, entering the fourth.

The RedStorm then put together a key run to start the final period, which eventually built a 75-59 lead with 5:48 to play.

Point Park trimmed that 16-point deficit down to six in the final minute, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. Ari Bleda got the late run started with a 3-pointer. Alexis Giles -- who had 12 of her 14 points come in the second half -- had a basket and a foul shot and then a trey to pull Point Park within 84-78. 

Rio Grande held on making its foul shots at the end and shooting 56 percent in the fourth quarter (9 for 16) to come out with the win. 

Point Park had a 19-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. Turnovers were costly for Point Park with some of those being a reason Rio Grande was able to get out a 36-26 lead in the second quarter and eventually lead 41-35 at the break. 

Neither team shot well the first half as they were both at 31 percent at the break. Both teams shot better the second half with Rio Grande slightly outscoring the Pioneers, 45-44, over the final 20 minutes.

Some big stats for the RedStorm were a 20-13 advantage in points off turnovers and a 50-20 advantage in points in the paint. Rebounds were even at 46 apiece with 23 turnovers for Point Park and 15 for Rio Grande. 

Gillian Piccolino led all scorers with 23 points for Point Park. She made four 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds. Bleda finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Along with Giles in with 14 points, the Pioneers had four starters in double digits with Gabriella Legister getting 10 points and 13 boards. 

Many fouls were called on both sides with 24 on each team. Point Park had starters Piccolino and Legister foul out and also had two key players with four fouls each. 

Rio Grande's No. 1-ranked scoring offense in the NAIA at 97.7 ppg has guards Kaylee Darnell at 18.8 ppg and Reagan Willingham at 16.4 ppg. Those two were held to a combined seven points on 2 for 14 shooting, but Rio Grande had other scoring come from Crites with a career-high 21 along with Lexi Woods 14, Azyiah Williams with 10 and Lavender Ward 12 off the bench. 

Point Park's next game is Saturday, Feb. 10 at Shawnee State (Ohio). That matchup pits the Pioneers in third place in the RSC East versus the Bears in fourth place. Ohio Christian at 8-3 RSC currently has a slight lead over the Pioneers after being off on Tuesday night.