Kessler Sets Record in Oilers 88-71 Win Over Warriors
The University of Findlay women's basketball team earned an 88-71 win over Wayne State University on Saturday, January 14 in Detroit, Michigan. The victory gives the Oilers an 11-5 record on the season with a 5-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Oilers found themselves down 38-34 at the break, but exploded in the second half as they put 54 points on the board to turn a tight game into an easy win.
Freshman forward Lacey Kessler led the charge with a career-high 26 points, doing most of her damage from the free throw line.
Kessler tied a school record with 16 makes from the free throw line and her 19 attempts established a new mark in the Oilers record book.
The Mt. Blanchard, Ohio native also connected on 5-of-8 shots from the field and added eight rebounds and a pair of steals in 24 minutes of action off the bench.
Junior forward Kayla Brown, another Mt. Blanchard native, also had a standout game for Findlay after scoring a season-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
Brown also added four rebounds and two steals while making 4-of-8 attempts from behind the three point line.
Sophomore guard Saira House reached double figures as well, scoring a career-high 16 points to go along with six steals, three assists and two rebounds.
Senior guard Clare Aubry chipped in nine points while junior forward Tai Dotson had six points and ten rebounds.
The Oilers shot 44.8 percent (26-of-58) from the floor and connected on a season-high 28-of-37 (75.7%) attempts from the charity stripe.
Findlay, who put up a season-high in points scored, also forced 25 turnovers and came up with 12 steals in the win.
Juanita Cochran led the Warriors with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
The Oilers will be back at home next Thursday, January 19 when they host Hillsdale College at 6 pm in Croy Gymnasium.
Notes: Molly Holt and Laura Bardall also made 16 free throws in a game. Holt accomplished the feat against Gannon (2/21/2002) while Bardall achieved a share of the record against Northern Michigan (2/21/2009).
The previous record of 18 free throws attempted was done by three players. Julie Flowers against Siena Heights (12/8/1988), Michelle Vorst against Northwood (1/21/2006) and Audra Mihalic against Tiffin (1/22/2009).