Buoyed by the energy from a few hundred fifth-graders from Valparaiso Community Schools on Tuesday morning at the ARC, the Valpo women's basketball team rolled to an 81-40 victory over visiting Trinity Christian.
 
How It Happened

• The Beacons never trailed, as junior Maci Rhoades (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek [Radford]) connected on a 3-pointer on their first possession of the game.
• Valpo opened the game on a 14-2 run over the first nine minutes and led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter, led by eight points from sophomore Nevaeh Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop).
• The Beacons tallied assists on eight of their nine field goals in the second quarter and fifth-year Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) stuffed the stat sheet in the period with a team-high five points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals as Valpo led 42-14 at intermission.
• Sophomore Kayla Preston (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) scored nine points in the third quarter and freshman Kylie Waytashek (Royalton, Minn./Royalton) added seven as the Beacons extended their lead to 68-27 at the end of the third quarter.
• Preston tallied seven more points in the final period and freshman Lexi Castator (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) added four points and four rebounds as Valpo closed out the victory.

 
Inside the Game

• Tuesday's game was the first women's basketball game at the ARC to tip off in the AM hours since a Feb. 10, 2019 matchup against UNI.
• The 40 points allowed was the lowest mark by a Valpo team since giving up just 37 in a win over UIC Dec. 15, 2019.
• The 41-point margin of victory was the program's largest since a 95-49 win over Chicago State Dec. 28, 2019.
• The Beacons dished out 25 assists on 29 made field goals, the program's highest single-game assist total since a 26-assist performance against Purdue Calumet Dec. 9, 1998.
• All 12 Beacons who played on Tuesday played at least nine minutes, while the Beacons' five starters averaged just north of 14 minutes of action.
• Preston had easily the best game of her collegiate career, leading all players with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the foul line. The sophomore tied her career best with five rebounds and also set career highs with four assists and two steals.
• Waytashek finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three assists in her third collegiate game.
• Jackson rounded out a trio of Valpo players in double figures in the scoring department with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
• Castator narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with nine points, tying for game-high honors with 10 rebounds and dishing out four assists without a turnover.
• Senior Katie Beyer (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) surpassed her career high as she pulled down six rebounds.
• Junior Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) led all players as she handed out five assists, in the process committing zero turnovers.

 
Next Up
Valpo (1-2) faces a quick turnaround as it makes the trip to take on former Horizon League rival Milwaukee Thursday evening. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m.