Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) made history on Monday as she celebrated her birthday with the second triple-double in Monmouth College women’s basketball history and the first ever in a non-overtime game. With 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Stearns led the Fighting Scots (4-7) to their most points in more than six years with a 96-67 road win over Eureka,
“It was a great first game back from break for us,” said head coach Michelle DeCoud. “Kynlee especially had a phenomenal performance and led the charge for us showcasing her abilities as an athlete today. Our goal was to not lose any momentum we built before break and I think we showed great will power as a team in doing that.”
Freshman Tiah Riggs (Vincennes, Indiana) scored the first four points of the game and she and Stearns combined to give the Scots a 10-4 lead. Ava Pelaez (Aurora, Colorado) scored and Stearns made another basket for a 14-7 lead. Jamaica Walker (Mobile, Alabama) and Pelaez scored the next seven points and the Scots led 25-15 on a Riggs basket.
Down six to start the second quarter, Eureka scored again to cut the lead to three. Walker and Riggs both answered with layups and Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) made two free throws. Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) scored two straight buckets and Monmouth used an 11-0 run to go on top 40-27. Cox scored again and Hoy put up the final four points of the quarter for a 46-28 halftime lead.
Hoy started the thor quarter with a 3-pointer, Riggs scored in the paint and Stearns made a free throw for a 52-28 lead. Stearns scored again and Hannah Peel (Gladwin, MIchigan) made two free throws. Eureka pulled within 13 when Stearns scored again and then assisted on Ava Borchard’s (Harvard, Illinois) jumper to end the quarter.
Stearns started the fourth quarter with a double-double and seven assists. She made it eight on the first bucket of the frame as Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) put the Scots up 68-50. Seller scored again and Riggs netted two straight buckets before Walker scored on a Stearns assist for a 76-50 lead. Stearns secured the triple-double on an assist to Riggs on a fast break with 6:43 to play in the game. She then grabbed her 13th rebound of the day and Riggs scored again for an 80-53 advantage. Stearns subbed out with 6:06 left and didn’t return. Cox, Walker and Pelaez scored to push the lead to 29. Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer to put the Scots up 32 and break the 90-point barrier. Peel and Pelaez finished off the scoring for the 96-67 victory.
Riggs led the Scots with a career-high 22 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the field. Stearns had 16 points while Walker had 12, Pelaez had 11 and Cox scored 10. Stearns led the team with 13 rebounds and 10 assists while also posting a block. Walker, Cox and Peel all had two steals.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: The only other triple-double in Monmouth history was a 26-point, 16-rebound, 10-assist effort by Katie Houston in a 116-111 double OT loss at Knox on Dec. 5, 2015 … Stearns set new career highs in rebounds and assists … This is just the 13th time in Monmouth history a player has tallied at least 10 assists and the first time since Houston in 2015 … The last time a Monmouth player had at least 10 assists in regulation was on Jan. 14, 2012 when Lauren Kellen had 10 against Lawrence a week after she set the school record with 13 assists against Knox … Cox posted her second career double-double and first since Nov. 21, 2023 … Walker had a career-high 12 points and a career-high four assists … Riggs made the most field goals by a Monmouth player this season with 11 and she set a career-high with 22 points … Monmouth did not trail in the game and scored 60 points in the paint … Rebounds were 62-40 in favor of the Scots … Monmouth’s 96 points are the most since Nov. 13, 2019 when 97 were scored against Iowa Wesleyan … Monmouth’s fourth quarter output of 30 points was their best quarter so far this seasonThe previous high was 28 in the first quarter against Dominican on Dec. 14 … Rangel moved into a tie for 15th with Keri Dodson on the career 3-pointers made list with 64 … Monmouth leads the all-time series 27-21 and ended a 2-game losing streak to the Red Devils … The Scots play Tuesday at Dominican with a 1 p.m. start and the next home game is Jan. 7 against Ripon
***Courtesy of Nathan Baliva, Monmouth College***
