CIRCLEVILLE, OH – It was a tale of two halves for the women's basketball team who opened the 2023 season with a huge comeback win over the University of Northwestern Ohio 71-58. The Trailblazers lost the first half 31-25 before coming back for a big 46-27 second half to take the win.
 
The Trailblazers went from 8-23 shooting in the first half to 19-43 in the second half.
 
Haley Cox led the offense with 28 points, shooting 8-18 from the field, 4-10 from deep and 8-10 from the line. Ashley DeWeese came up with 13 points and Emma Koons had a double-double with 12 points and 10 assist. Cox and Darcy Mitchell had a team-high five assists.
 
The Trailblazers got off to a tough start in the first quarter which went to the Racers 19-10.
 
Cox opened the scoring in the second quarter with a steal and layup. The Racers were pressing high and disrupting the Trailblazer offense before it could get rolling, but Cox added a triple for a 5-0 run all her own, getting them to 19-15 to start the second quarter.
 
They forced a Racers timeout, coming within three at 21-18. They went into halftime down 31-25, but won the quarter 15-12.
 
Shots weren't falling for the Trailblazers in the first half, shooting 8-23 from the field, 1-8 from deep and 8-14 from the free throw line.
 
The second half was much stronger overall for the Trailblazers.
 
Sophie Hoyt got the Trailblazers within three six minutes into the third quarter. They shortened their lead to as few as two but they finished the third quarter down 49-44.
 
A big triple by Cox got the Trailblazers back within three at 52-49 with eight minutes to play in the game. DeWeese forced a Racers timeout getting the Trailblazers within one at 52-51.
 
Mitchell gave Ohio Christian their first lead of the game at 53-52 with six mintues to play. The defense stepped up to hold the Racers to extend the lead while Cox came up with another huge triple to get the crowd in it and extend the lead to 56-52.
 
They held the lead until the final whistle for the 71-58 win.
 
The Trailblazers are back at home this Saturday, November 4^th to take on Indiana University-Southbend at 1 p.m.
 
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