Maybe it was the hot pink warm-up shirts and shoelaces. Or the ceremony honoring Kaitlin Schneden for tallying 1,000 points in her career.
Whatever it was, the women’s basketball team was extra hyped for its contest Saturday against Missouri Valley College at Collins Center – a game where the ‘Cats cruised to a final score that paralleled the pregame buildup, 91-74.
The first half was the Lauren Shufelberger show as the senior guard burst out of the gate with two 3-pointers and four points from the foul line in the first seven minutes.
Couple that with the Vikings’ debilitating allergy to the rim, and the Wildcats found themselves up 20-3 with 13:18 left in the half.
“(Shufelberger) set the tone for the whole game,” senior guard Schneden said. “She got things going early, and the team rallied around her.”
Missouri Valley found its range with just fewer than 10 minutes left, but a sophomore Aubree Gustin-led late rally sent BU to the locker room up 44-26.
“It makes things so much easier, especially for the post players, when the guards shoot well,” head coach Susan Decker said. “Then teams aren’t able to just pack it in on Aubree and (sophomore) Audrey (Bryant).”
Schneden opened the second half for the Wildcats proving why she has 1,000 points next to her name and hit a barrage of step-back threes to push the lead to 60-39.
With the Vikings having to respect Schneden’s seemingly – limitless range, holes opened up inside for Gustin.
The sophomore demonstrated a good mid-range jumper and finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.
With a big lead, the ‘Cats were able to slow the pace down in the second half and cruise to the victory.
“(The Wildcats) ran their offensive really efficiently, probably more efficient than I’ve seen them run it all year,” Decker said.
Shufelberger finished the night matching her points to her jersey number, 23, and Schneden kicked in 16.
Junior Gloria Atanmo provided 11 quality minutes off the bench and scored 10 points.
“It’s hard for teams to defend when you have so many players in double-figures,” Gustin said. “So many people contributed.”
The Graceland University Yellowjackets will visit Saturday at Collins Center for the final game of the regular season.
