Jordan helps Rio survive off-night in Kokomo

Jasmine Jordan had a game-high 23 points, 20 rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the way in an 81-71 win over Indiana University Kokomo, Thursday night, in River States Conference women’s basketball action at the Student Activities and Events Center.

Rio Grande, which jumped two positions to No. 9 in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 poll released on Wednesday, improved to 18-3 overall and 8-1 in the RSC with a 10th straight victory.

The host Cougars slipped to 8-12 overall and 4-5 in league play as a result of the loss.

The RedStorm hit just 17 of their 59 field goal attempts (28.8%) over the course of the game’s first three periods, yet still found themselves with a 51-44 lead heading to the final 10 minutes.

Rio led by no less than five points and by as many as 13 points in the final stanza, going 11-for-20 from the field (55.0%) and 7-for-7 at the foul line, while committing just one turnover.

Jordan, a freshman from Ashland, Ky. and the RSC’s reigning Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, went 5-for-7 from the floor, while finishing with 11 points and six rebounds in the period.

She finished 10-for-17 overall, 1-for-4 from three-point range and 2-for-4 at the foul line. Fourteen of her 20 rebounds were on the defensive glass.

Three others reached double figures in the win for the RedStorm.

Senior Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) went 9-for-9 at the free throw line en route to a 13-point night, while junior Marlee Grinstead (Albany, OH) and freshman Ella Simpson (Morgantown, WV) added 11 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.

Williams also had four assists and freshman Payton Johnson (Peebles, OH) had three steals.

The group effort served as a pick-me-up to senior guard Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) who, for the first time in 121 collegiate games, failed to score. She finished 0-for-8 from the floor in 34 minutes of playing time after entering the game averaging a team-best 23 points per game.

Rio also finished 22-for-27 (81.5%) at the free throw line and enjoyed a 50-30 edge in rebounding.

IUK shot just over 41 percent overall (28-for-68), but was just 5-for-18 from beyond the three-point arc (27.8%).

The Cougars shot a solid 76.9 percent at the foul line, but only made it to the stripe half as many times as the RedStorm.

Mia Catey led Kokomo with 23 points, while Anna Kiser had 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots and Cameryn Rector had 13 points in the loss.

Mackenzie York had five assists and Hannah Hodgen had three steals for the Cougars.

Rio Grande will conclude its weekend road swing on Saturday at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.