Eagles Fall in Season Opener

ST. CATHARINE, Ky. – A late comeback was not in order in the women’s basketball season opener on Friday night as the Eagles fell to St. Catharine 71-68.  Asbury held a 34-27 halftime lead but a 17-2 Lady Patriot run to start the second half was too much to overcome.

Transfer junior Trenia Barbee led Asbury (0-1) with 26 points off the bench and just missed a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds.  The 5-8 guard was 9-of-25 from the field, including connecting on two three-pointers and made all six free throws.  On the night, the Eagles knocked down 19-of-20 from the charity stripe and the Lady Patriots hit on 19-of-21.

Janae Howard led St. Catharine with 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds and Kasei Evans added a double-double of her own with 12 points and 13 rebounds.  Laura Carroll was the only other player in double-figures on the night, scoring 18 points for the Eagles on 6-of-12 shooting.

Neither team shot the ball well, except for the free throw line, as Asbury shot 32.3% from the floor and St. Catharine 32.9%.  The Eagles hit only 7-of-23 from three-point range including three from Ellie Steiner.  St. Catharine was only 2-for-14 from long range.  The Lady Patriots out-rebounded the Eagles 57-40.

Asbury will head to Berea College on the Friday and Saturday to play Marian (Ind.) and Mid-Continent.  The Eagles are starting the season on a five-game road trip before their home opener on November 15th against Kentucky Christian.