Pride win defensive battle 61-45 over Culver-Stockton

DUBUQUE, Iowa - In their final home game of the regular season, the Clarke University women's basketball team pulled away on a rough shooting night to earn a 61-45 win over Culver-Stockton College.

Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field with the Pride going 23-of-62 (37.1%) and the Wildcats having a rough 14-for-57 (24.6%) night as both teams varied up their looks defensively to throw off the other team's offensive rhythm throughout the game.

CU was able to outscore the Wildcats in every quarter of the game including holding Culver-Stockton to single digit point totals in the first and fourth quarters.

Rebounding was dead even at 43-43, CSC only had two more turnover than Clarke at 16-14 with Friday night being a rare occasion of a visiting team shooting more free throws than CU as Culver-Stockton ended at 14-of-19 from the line with the Pride going 9-for-11.

The game's leading scorer was Addison Newbon of the Wildcats as she scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds but took 15 shots to score her 16 points as the only member of Culver-Stockton to score in double figures.

For CU, three players finished in double figures led by Emma Kelchen's efficient 6-of-9 shooting on her way to 14 points and eight rebounds. Both Nicole McDermott and Giana Michels added 13 points in support as Michels scored all 13 of her points in the first half, dealing with foul trouble most of the second, and McDermott scored in every quarter but the fourth.

Up next for the Clarke University women's basketball team will be back-to-back road games to close out the final week of the regular season, starting with a trip to Oskaloosa, Iowa to face off with William Penn University next Wednesday, Feb. 16 for a 5:30 p.m. CT tip.