Blue Knights Open With Big Win Over Siena Heights
Urbana, Oh (11-09-07)—The Urbana University women’s basketball started their season in the right direction as they defeated visiting Siena Heights University 80-57.

The Blue Knights saw four players reach double figures led by freshman Jessica Byrd with 16. Byrd also had seven assists, five rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals. Junior Tia Simms was a rebound short of a double-double as she had 15 points and nine rebounds along with four steals. Senior Haley Fannon scored 14 points and dished out six assists while fellow senior Megan Mummey added 10. Two Urbana players had double figures on the boards as senior Enisia Curry and freshman Andrea Morrow each had 11 rebounds and eight points.

Coach Rob Phillips was pleased with his team’s opening performance. “We open ever year with Siena because they always get after it on defense. I think the team handled the pressure well tonight.”  Coach Phillips credits that to an improvement in passing and ball handling. “This year we are a better passing team than we have been in the past and we are a little more athletic. I think we played a lot better man to man defense which helped us out.”

Phillips also sees Byrd and Simms as scorers and hopes that Fannon and Mummey each score as well. “Haley and Megan aren’t prolific scorers because they do so many other things. They were both being more aggressive on offense tonight and we will need them to score to be successful.”

He also believes that once they get more scoring down low the team will be very balanced. “This year we are quick and strong and athletic. We have been quick and small in the past but this year we have the size to go with it.”

Siena Heights was led by Lauren Crockett with 11 points. Urbana returns to action at home tomorrow against Point Park University with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.

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