NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Kenyon College women's basketball team used a strong first half in a 65-55 road win against Muskingum University on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
 
Paige Matijasich led the Ladies with 17 points and eight rebounds while fellow point guard Jessica Gerber notched 13 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in the game. Frontcourt players Lane Davis and Ifeoma Archimalo combined for 20 points while totaling 12 rebounds. Senior Griffin Tullis filled up the stat sheet with five points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists.
 
Muskingum had just one lead, and it came in the first quarter as Caitlyn Smith hit a pair of free throws to start the game. A few possessions later with the score tied at 4-4, Tullis drained a three-pointer to push Kenyon ahead 7-4. The Ladies remained in front the rest of the way and led by as many as seven points (16-9) after a Matijasich long ball with 4:51 left.
 
Kenyon took an 18-12 lead into the second quarter and really opened things up early. The Ladies went on a 15-6 run while scoring on their first seven possessions.  Davis capped the stretch with back-to-back buckets which ran the score to 33-18, Kenyon. On the other side, Muskingum scored on just two of its first seven possessions.
 
By halftime, the Ladies had built a 38-25 lead while shooting over 51 percent from the field. Matijasich led with nine points while Tullis contributed seven.
 
In the third, both teams were virtually deadlocked as Muskingum slightly outscored Kenyon 17-15.  With little room made by the home team, the Ladies took a 53-42 advantage into the final quarter.
 
After solid offense through the first three periods, the Ladies cooled off and that allowed the Fighting Muskies to get back in it.
 
Kenyon went 0-for-11 to start the fourth and in that time, Muskingum got to within two possessions (54-48). At 3:25 remaining on the clock, two free throws from Alexandra Carson brought the score to 56-50; however, the Ladies did not let the Fighting Muskies get any closer. Gerber scored seven of the team's final nine points while Davis added a bucket.
 
As a team, the Ladies shot a respectable 43.1 percent from the field and an 85.7 percent clip from the foul line.
 
Next on the schedule for Kenyon is a neutral-site game against Trine University on the campus of Denison University on November 18 at 3:00 p.m.