VALPARAISO | It might not have been against a Big Ten team, but the Valparaiso women’s basketball team extended its winning streak over Indiana schools on Tuesday night.
The Crusaders used a 14-1 run to start the second half to pull away from Purdue Calumet and extended its in-state winning streak to seven games with a 76-59 win at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Tabitha Gerardot led the Crusaders with 18 points and 12 rebounds while Shaquira Scott added 14 points and six rebounds. Valparaiso enjoyed a 58-32 advantage on the boards.
“We struggled shooting the ball today, but we did a good job pounding the glass,” Valparaiso coach Tracey Dorow said. “I’m proud that we didn’t just stop playing.”
Gerardot scored eight of her 18 points in the opening minutes of the game as Valparaiso started off the contest on a 20-6 run, but the Peregrines battled back and cut the deficit to six points at the end of the first half.
Valparaiso struggled from the 3-point line Tuesday, shooting just 16 percent. But for every missed 3-pointer, Gerardot or Liz Horton seemed to be under the basket for an offensive rebound. The Crusaders finished with 27 second-chance points.
“Getting second chance points is as big momentum wise as a 3-pointer is,” Gerardot said. “Liz did a great job boxing out and if we didn’t get the three, we’d be right there to grab the ball.”
Horton finished with a career-high 14 points and six rebounds as Valparaiso coach Tracey Dorow had all 13 Valparaiso players on the court by halftime. Maegan Callaway made her season debut and took the court for the first time since last year’s season opener. The Mooresville native finished with two points and two rebounds in three minutes. Callaway missed all of last season with a back injury.
The Crusaders won’t return to the Athletics-Recreation Center until Dec. 1 against St. Louis and will play their next four games on the road beginning with two in Indianapolis this weekend before traveling to Duke on Nov. 23.
Alex Starr led the Peregrines with 16 points while Brooklyn Short had 15 points and three assists. Washington Twp. product Linsdey Whitcomb had two points and two blocks before fouling out in 17 minutes of action. South Central product Stephanie Balon was held scoreless in eight minutes on the floor.
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