Fresh off their first loss of the season the #2 Highland Women's basketball team got back to action in their first home game of the 2019 calendar year and got back in the win column. 

Scotties hit the century mark for the fourth time this season on their way to a 108-46 win over McPherson JV beating the bulldogs for the second time this season moving Highland to 14-1 on the year. The win also marks the 30th straight home victory for the Scotties. 

The contest opened up with Stefania Chiziane accounting for the first five points of the game and it looked like the Scotties were asserting early control however McPherson managed to tie the ballgame at 12-12 with 3:42 left in the first quarter. Highland had an answer as the Scotties closed out the first quarter strong going on a 15-1 run to lead 27-13. The lead continued to grow for Highland early in the second quarter as Highland posted an 11-0 run to open the second stanza before McPherson got on the scoreboard in the quarter. Ultimately finishing the first half with a 31-9 second quarter Highland led 58-22 at intermission over McPherson. 

The second half saw much of the same for the Scotties as they shared the ball, shot well, forced turnovers and made plays to grow their lead. Scotties pushed their lead by 10-points heading into the fourth quarter and finished the game with a 22-6 fourth quarter to secure the win as the Scotties hit the century mark in the fourth on a Tiana Gipson three-pointer and won 108-46. 

As a team the Scotties over 50% for the fifth time this season posting a 56.2% shooting night and shot 51.4% from three point range going 18-35 from outside the arc for the most made three-pointers this season in a game for Highland. Highland defense forced 31 turnovers giving them their eighth game this season forcing over 30 turnovers. Scotties also notched 27 assists, a team season high eight blocks and had 17 steals, while out rebounding McPherson 43-22. 

Individually the Scotties had six double figure scorers for the fourth time this season in a game and were led by Gipson who posted 22 points going 6-11 from three point range and added career best marks in assists and steals with eight and four, respectively. Chiziane posted her 20th career double figure performance scoring 21 points on 9-11 shooting and added five rebounds, five steals and four assists. Tuana Dinc recorded a double-double scoring 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds matching her career high, while Daisah Purnell hit five three-pointers and finished with 16 points on the night and five rebounds. Both Janiya Davis and Armani Turner each added 11 points on the night, while Khaliah Hines recorded a career best seven assists in the win. 

UP NEXT
Highland continues the non-conference portion of their season on Wednesday, January 9th at home when they host Bethany JV for a noon tip. The Scotties will look to improve their 14-1 record on the season and add to their won win streak.