Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's basketball team used tough interior play on both halves of the court on Monday night to secure an 82-53 non-conference victory over the Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Warhawks at the AUM Basketball Complex on Monday evening.
 
SHC rolled out to a quick 8-0 lead over the Warhawks (5-15) just 2½ minutes into play as the Badger interior players controlled the paint both on offense and defense over the first five minutes. AUM rallied to tie the game at 12-12 at the 3:29 mark of the opening period, but a fast break basket by senior forward Alishia DraytonLewis off a blocked shot by freshman guard Elise Reilly put SHC back up 14-12. Junior point guard Jennifer Clark connected on a 3-pointer the next trip down and Daja Walker drove the lane through traffic for a layup as the Badger maintained a 19-17 lead heading to the 2^nd quarter.
 
The teams traded long jumpers to start the next period, but the Badgers used strong rebounding and a quick-handed defense to stretch the advantage to 27-21 with 5:05 left until halftime. Senior center Leah Washington completed a hoop-and-the-harm 3-point play then followed it with a breakaway layup seconds later as Spring Hill broke out to a 38-24 cushion with 1:45 left on the 2^nd quarter clock.
 
At halftime, SHC held a 40-29 lead while out-rebounding the Warhawks 26-16 and shooting a healthy 47.2% (17-36). The Badgers answered a half-opening AUM layup with a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Reilly and two free throws by guard Jewel Hill to expand the lead to 45-31 at 7:29 in the 3^rd quarter. AUM responded with a 5-point run to make it a 45-36 contest, but Hill stopped the bleeding with a layup at 4:55 as the Badgers clawed out a 59-40 bulge by the end of the 3^rd period.
 
The 4^th quarter was all Spring Hill with the Badgers taking as much as a 26-point lead at 71-47 with 6 minutes left on the game clock.
 
Reilly scored 15 points for Spring Hill while Walker put 14 points on the board, Washington added 13 points and Drayton-Lewis contributed 12 points with 11 rebounds. The Badgers shot 49.3% (33-67) from the field including 15.4% (2-13) from 3-point distance, but continued to be haunted by turnovers with 23 turnovers versus just five Warhawk steals. Under the boards, SHC made up for their offensive mistakes by winning the rebounding battle 55-31.
 
AUM shot 30.8% (20-65) overall and struggled to 4.8% (1-21) from 3-point range while losing 16 turnovers against nine SHC steals. Nadia Stewart put 18 points in the hoops, Tyra Caudle scored 11 points and Grace Farnsworth added 10 points.
 
Spring Hill (9-7, 4-3 SIAC West) opens a two-game Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) West Division road trip on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. versus the Miles College Lady Golden Bears (7-9, 2-3 SIAC West)  in Knox-Windham Gymnasium in Fairfield, Ala.