SWANNANOA, N.C.— Leading by double digits for the final 32 minutes of the contest, the Montreat women's basketball team cruised past the Warren Wilson College Owls in Swannanoa, N.C. Sunday afternoon, 76-52. With the victory, the Cavaliers improved to 7-2 on the year.
 
Defense carried the Cavs out to a sizable edge in the opening stages of the ballgame. After surrendering the opening basket, Montreat jumped out to a 16-4 lead on the Owls behind a 16-2 run. Aebri Graham buried two 3-pointers during the Montreat-dominated span, and the Cavaliers translated 12 Warren Wilson turnovers into 15 points in the initial frame alone. Ultimately, the visitors took an 18-6 lead into the second quarter of play.
 
Turnovers fueled the Montreat offense in the first, and paint touches powered the offense in the second as all seven of the Cavaliers' made baskets in the second frame came from inside the paint. Warren Wilson cut down on a few of its turnovers in the period, which led to greater offensive output; however, the Cavs still possessed a comfortable 34-18 lead at the halftime break.
 
While overall shooting percentages between the two sides weren't all that different, the visitors took 12 more shots in the initial half of action—Montreat went 13-of-32 (40.6 percent) from the floor and 3-for-15 from 3-point range (20.0 percent) compared to the Owls' 8-for-20 (40.0 percent) overall showing and 12.5 percent (1-8 3-pt FG) shooting clip from deep. The Cavs also held a 21-12 turnover advantage with 12 steals, and Warren Wilson went just 1-for-8 at the free-throw line.
 
Mariya Williams led all players with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists at the intermission. Makayla Thompson added eight points and three steals through the first two quarters.
 
Williams dominated play the opening five minutes of the third frame by scoring 10 of the Cavaliers' 15 points, hauling in four board and notching two blocks. With a double-double recorded only midway through the period, Williams set up a quarter thoroughly controlled by Montreat. With a 16-point lead at the start of the second half, the Cavs utilized a 26-11 third quarter to blow the contest open and enter the final 10 minutes of regulation up 60-29.
 
Warren Wilson (0-9) played its best quarter of the contest down the stretch as Montreat went deep into its bench; however, the 23-16 scoring edge was far too little, too late. A 54-36 rebounding advantage and a 27-18 turnover superiority helped the Cavaliers seize a 76-52 triumph, their sixth consecutive win over Warren Wilson.
 
"It's always great to get a win on the road," said head coach Josh Thompson. "We are going to try to keep working hard to get better every game."
 
As a team, the Cavs shot 38.7 percent overall (29-75 FG) and 5-for-21 from behind the arc (23.8 percent). Meanwhile, the Owls connected on just 19 of its 55 looks from the field (34.5 percent) and 17.4 percent of its 3-point attempts (4-23 3-pt FG). Montreat assisted on 19 of its 29 baskets and racked up 15 steals across 40 minutes of play.
 
Williams paced all players with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and she tied for a game-high in assists with three. Virginia Edmondson poured in 13 points on the afternoon, while Thompson joined her teammates in double figures with 10 points. Twelve different Cavaliers scored during the 76-52 victory.
 
The Montreat women's basketball team plays its first home game since Nov. 17 this Wednesday when the Truett McConnell University Bears visit McAlister Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. in Montreat, N.C.