EAGLES WBB OVERPOWERS CIU 65-49

EAGLES WBB OVERPOWERS CIU 65-49
Recap Box Score
February 12, 2026
Columbia, SC -  The Eagles turned a steady first-half lead into a dominant road win Wednesday evening, using a smothering defensive effort and a big second-half surge to defeat CIU 65-49.
 
The Eagles broke the game open after halftime, outscoring CIU 21-15 in the third quarter and 22-17 in the fourth to stretch a narrow 22-17 edge into a comfortable double-digit victory. Reinhardt's pressure-defense and activity in the passing lanes proved decisive, as the Eagles forced 29 Ram turnovers and converted them into 32 points on the other end, repeatedly turning stops into transition chances and momentum-shifting baskets.
 
Emariah Grant led Reinhardt with 14 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes, setting the tone early with the game's opening bucket at 9:42 of the first quarter and later drilling a third-quarter 3-pointer that pushed the Eagles' advantage to 33-23. Londaisha Smith added 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals, playing a key role in Reinhardt's decisive stretches on both ends. Smith powered to the rim for a second-quarter layup that made it 17-11, then buried a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to send the Eagles into the break with a 22-14 lead.
 
Out of the locker room, Reinhardt continued to build on that momentum. The Eagles shot 25-of-71 (35.2%) from the field and 7-of-32 from beyond the arc but made up for the cold perimeter numbers with efficiency in other areas and an aggressive approach. Reinhardt went 8-of-9 at the free-throw line and scored 32 points in the paint, repeatedly attacking gaps created by CIU's turnovers. A putback layup by McKinley Brothers with 2:48 left in the third quarter stretched the lead to 43-26, part of a run that helped Reinhardt seize control and never look back.
 
The Eagles put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Smith opened the final frame with another 3-pointer to make it 48-34 at the 7:47 mark, sparking a final push. Reinhardt's bench added 25 points on the night, highlighted by Audrey Ekoue-Blas' 11-point outing, including 2-of-6 shooting from distance and a perfect 3-of-3 at the stripe. Taylor Collins capped the Eagles' offensive surge with a late 3-pointer that extended the margin to 65-43 with 1:58 remaining, Reinhardt's largest lead at 22 points.
 
CIU stayed within striking distance in the first half, trailing just 13-11 after the opening quarter and 22-14 at halftime, but the Rams struggled to overcome Reinhardt's pressure and their own miscues. 
Reinhardt's balanced scoring, depth, and defensive intensity ultimately defined the night. The Eagles shared the ball for 13 assists, generated 17 fastbreak points and limited CIU to just five points off Reinhardt's 19 turnovers. By gradually extending a modest first-quarter lead into a dominant second-half performance, the Eagles secured a convincing conference road victory and reinforced a defensive identity built on pressure, turnovers and timely shooting.
 
The Eagles will be back this Saturday when they face Pikeville at 2pm. This will be their Senior night, where the Seniors will be recognized for their hard work and dedication.
 
 
Writeup by Bryce Johnson
Photo by Nicole Seitz