Kruger's 14 points leads ASC in victory over Chaminade (Hawai'i)

Grizzlies end trip to islands with 55-42 win over Lady Swords

HONOLULU - Wrapping up its season-opening road trip in the islands, the Adams State women's basketball team owned the boards and got to the line often against Chaminade (Hawai'i) on Sunday afternoon to earn its first win of the 2010-11 season by a 55-42 tally.

For the Grizzlies, who evened their record at 1-1 before heading back to the mainland, it was their second game against an opponent from the PacWest in as many days. After facing last year's PacWest champions Hawai'i Pacific, ASC faced off against the Lady Swords (0-1) who posted a record of 1-23 last season and have been picked to finish ninth in that league this season.

Both teams struggled from the field throughout the game, as the Grizzlies and Lady Swords shot 29.1 per cent (16-of-55) and 27.3 per cent (15-of-55), respectively. But Adams State made it to the free throw line 35 times in the contest, sinking 19 free throws while Chaminade scored just nine points from the charity stripe.

Senior Kendra Coveal (Albuquerque, N.M.) and junior Kelsie Kruger (Alamosa, Colo.) each flirted with double-doubles on Sunday. Coveal, who tallied a double-double in the Grizzlies season opener, pulled down a game-leading 11 rebounds and scored nine points. Kruger led both teams in scoring, reaching double figures for the second time with 14 points and grabbed nine caroms of her own.

The Grizzlies outrebounded the Lady Swords by a vast 59-33 margin, and seven ASC players pulled down five or more rebounds.

Senior guard Vera Jo Bustos (Las Vegas, N.M.) was good for 13 points for Adams State, equaling her total from Saturday, while hitting three 3-pointers and shooting 50 per cent from beyond the arc. Busots, the RMAC Preseason Women's Player of the Year, also tallied seven rebounds, a pair of assists and came up with two steals against Chaminade.

The Lady Swords led early and were up as much as eight points with 15 minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Grizzlies closed out the half strong and took a 25-21 lead into the break. Adams State then kept the pressure on in the second half, expanding its lead to 21 points with just 4:35 left in the game.

ASC will return from their long road trip on Monday and will then return to action on Friday, playing their first home game of the season as both the Grizzlies' men's and women's basketball teams host the Adams State Bankers Classic in Plachy Hall on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20.

This year's edition of the Bankers Classic will include the Grizzlies, Cameron (Okla.), Northern New Mexico and Western State on the women's side. Adams State will play its first game of the two day event on Friday at 6 p.m. against Northern New Mexico and will face Cameron at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening.

Adams State and Northern New Mexico met in the Bankers Classic last season, where the Grizzlies handed the Eagles a 101-35 drubbing.

Fans who cannot make it Plachy Hall for the weekend's action can follow all Adams State men's and women's games via live stats, by listening live at www.kspk.com, or watching the game on AmericaOne (formerly  the B2 Network). Information about ordering single games and season passes on AmericaOne can be found by clicking here.

Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.