Earnest Cracks Top-10 in Career Scoring; Beacons Finish as Christmas City Classic Runners-Up

Earnest Cracks Top-10 in Career Scoring; Beacons Finish as Christmas City Classic Runners-Up

Valpo women’s basketball grad student Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) broke into the program’s top-10 in career scoring and had one of the top free throw shooting days in program history as part of a 29-point, 12-rebound effort Sunday afternoon as the Beacons finished as runners-up at the Christmas City Classic in Bethlehem, Pa., falling to host Lehigh, 77-59. Earnest and senior Katie Beyer (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) represented Valpo on the All-Tournament Team.

How It Happened

–          Valpo held an 11-10 lead six minutes into the game following a 3-pointer from junior Maci Rhoades (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek [Radford]).

–          Lehigh ended the opening quarter on a 13-4 spurt, as the Mountain Hawks hit five first quarter 3-pointers and led 23-15 10 minutes into the game.

–          Lehigh scored on its first possession of the second quarter to extend its lead to double figures before the Beacons went on an 11-0 run in a span of just over two minutes, bookended by 3-point plays from Earnest, to edge in front, 26-25.

–          3-pointers from sophomore Layla Gold (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and Earnest were the only field goals Valpo came up with over the final six minutes of the half, however, as Lehigh regained the lead and took a 42-36 lead into halftime.

–          The Beacons’ struggles from the field continued after halftime, as an Earnest drive and finish in the first minute of the third quarter was their only field goal of the period.

–          The Mountain Hawks extended their lead to 55-42 with 10 minutes to play and Valpo got no closer than 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Inside the Game

–          Valpo finished as tournament runners-up by virtue of its opening-round win over North Dakota on Saturday. Earnest earned her All-Tournament Team spot as she averaged 23.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game over the Beacons’ two contests, while Beyer earned her selection by virtue of a strong 16-point performance in Saturday’s win.

–          Earnest impacted Valpo’s record books in a number of ways Sunday, most notably by skyrocketing up the program’s career scoring chart. Earnest, who entered the game 12^th in program history in scoring and trailing Marlous Nieuwveen and Tabitha Gerardot in a tie for 10^th by 18 points, passed both players by halftime. She then moved past Stephanie Greer in the second half, closing the afternoon ninth in program history with 1,228 points.

–          Earnest also gained one spot on the Beacons’ career rebounding chart as well, moving into a tie for sixth place with Amber Schober at 703 career caroms.

–          On a single-game note, Earnest went a perfect 12-of-12 at the free throw line Sunday, making her one of 12 players in program history to hit 100% at the stripe on a minimum of 10 attempts and one of only four to do so with at least 12 attempts.

–          Earnest posted her 17^th career double-double with her game highs of 29 points and 12 rebounds. The 29-point output was the second-best effort of her career.

–          There have been just four individual games by a Valpo player with at least 29 points and 12 rebounds in the last 15 seasons, and Earnest owns two of those, doing so last year at Illinois State as well. She is also just the second MVC player to hit both of those marks in a game this season.

–          Gold was the only Beacon to join Earnest in double figures, scoring 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

–          Valpo shot just 35.4% for the game to Lehigh’s 43.4% clip. The Mountain Hawks doubled up the Beacons from the 3-point line, connecting on 12 triples to Valpo’s six.

–          One day after owning a +24 advantage in points off turnovers, Valpo was a -13 on Sunday (20-7) as it committed 18 turnovers, while Lehigh turned the ball over just 12 times.

–          Valpo did finish the game with a 31-29 advantage on the boards, the first D-I opponent the Beacons have outrebounded this season.

Next Up

Valpo (3-5) returns home Wednesday evening as it hosts Western Michigan at the ARC at 6 p.m.