ST. MARYS – Big performances by Noelle Ruane and Kendall Dieringer helped St. Marys race past visiting Bellefontaine 47-29 in a Tuesday evening non-conference matchup.
Trailing 3-0 early in the first the 5’10 Ruane knocked down her 16th three point goal of the season to tie the contest and added a shot from inside the arc moments later to trim the Rider deficit to 9-7 before a Dieringer triple put the host on top 10-9 with 1:10 to go in the quarter.
Parker Penhorwood’s basket regained the lead for the visitors at 11-10 before a connection from teammate Emma Middaugh sent the game to the buzzer at 13-10 Bellefontaine.
Each of the 14 second quarter points for the Roughriders was scored by the senior duo who repeatedly found ways to push their team back into the lead despite a pair of baskets from Carmen Shumaker that ended a two and a half minute drought for the Chieftains to tie the game at 17-17 early in the period.
Dieringer put the blue and gold on top 19-17 seconds later with a runner off glass and was joined by Ruane who finished with the last of her opening half nine markers to start a five point run that closed the half with St. Marys on top 24-18.
The third quarter provided tough sledding for both teams on the offensive end as each turned up their defensive intensity and prevented the looks at the basket that had been afforded in the opening two periods.
Bellefontaine pulled within 24-20 with 5:23 in the third on a fast break layup by Shumaker but were shut out until deep in the period as a make from Eastern Kentucky University softball signee Tayteum Vigansky cut the lead to 28-22 to end the dry spell with 1:49 to go.
Ella Jacobs provided the final marker of the third for the Roughriders as they upped their lead into double digits at 32-22 with the first of her two second half scores.
Working in rhythm offensively in the fourth quarter the hosts continued to push their advantage deeper into double digits as they wore down the Chieftains up and down the floor with makes by Ruane, Dieringer, Morgan Hesse, and ultimately a triple by sophomore Reagan Allemeier to finish off an 18 point victory.
Bellefontaine scored seven points over the final eight minutes of play and was led by sophomore Alexis Robinson who finished the game with nine.
“I’m really proud of the girls effort tonight. That was a fast and physical Bellefontaine team and we didn’t shoot well early on. We had to rely on our defense and take more patience offensively. That was a great game for us to grow” said St. Marys boss Jon Burke.
The Chieftains (5-5) will return to action on Monday night as they welcome the Western Buckeye League leading Shawnee Indians to town for a 7:30 P.M. non-league tilt.
St. Marys (8-1) has won seven straight contests after opening the season 1-1 and was paced by Kendall Dieringer with 17 and Noelle Ruane with 15.
Next up for the Roughriders is a January 4th home date with Route 66 rival Spencerville.
Scoring:
St. Marys (47):
Ella Jacobs 4
Reagan Allemeier 3
Morgan Hesse 7
Kendall Dieringer 17
Noelle Ruane 15
Karsyn McGlothen 2
FT: 2/7
3PT: 4 (Dieringer 2, Ruane, Allemeier)
TO: 10
Bellefontaine (29):
Parker Penhorwood 2
Carmen Shumaker 7
Quinlan Casey 5
Emma Middaugh 2
Alexis Robinson 9
Taytum Vigansky 4
FT: 5/7
3PT: 0
TO: 15
JV: Bellefontaine 34-33