Gloster, Gregory, swarming defense lead (RV) SSU WBB to 74-49 victory over Indiana-Kokomo

KOKOMO, Ind. -- Have it your way.

It's the famous slogan that Burger King has come to be known for.

For much of a 40-minute contest against the Indiana-Kokomo Cougars' women's basketball program, the women's basketball program at Shawnee State certainly had its own way with homestanding IU-Kokomo -- as the Bears led for 34:55 of the 40-minute affair and didn't trail at any point over the final 29:23 of the contest in a 74-49 River States Conference victory Saturday afternoon at the Indiana-Kokomo Student Activities and Events Center in Kokomo, Ind.

Game Summary

As has been the norm throughout much of the 2024-25 season, Shawnee State proved to be stout defensively as the Bears held Indiana-Kokomo to a 17-of-50 clip from the field (34 percent) and a 6-of-24 mark from three-point range (25 percent).

The Bears (18-4, 9-1 River States Conference) also posted a plus-nine rebounding edge on the glass (40-31), forced 17 Indiana-Kokomo turnovers, and posted sizeable advantages in bench points (25-11), points off of turnovers (12-6), points in the paint (18-4) and second-chance points (24-12) over IU-Kokomo (8-13, 4-6 River States Conference) in the contest.

While Shawnee State shot 39.3 percent from the field as a team (24-of-61), the Bears were highly efficient from three-point range as Shawnee State went 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from that area of the floor. The Bears also notched 13 assists on 24 made baskets en route to opening up looks from beyond the arc. A total of 10 different players scored for SSU in the contest, with six players hitting at least one three in the 25-point SSU triumph.

Gloster goes to work

Bringing the lunch pail like it was a regular weekday work shift at an automotive plant back in her native home of Flint, Mich., senior forward Cianna Gloster tore Indiana-Kokomo's frontline a new one en route to yet another double-double outing.

In the opening quarter alone, Gloster tallied 10 points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks -- scoring on anything from putbacks in the low post area to two three-point fields and to free throw line opportunities -- as Shawnee State used the 6-0 senior energy bug to keep firm footing against Indiana-Kokomo early.

It was Gloster's three-pointer on the left wing that gave Shawnee State a 13-11 advantage at the end of the opening quarter -- and when Indiana-Kokomo answered back with a three-pointer of its own to begin the second frame, it was Gloster's putback basket with 9:23 to play in the second quarter that gave the Bears the lead for good.

For the contest, Gloster ultimately finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, five steals and her two blocks on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a 5-of-7 mark from the free throw line in another splendid effort by the always-hustling standout. The forward is now averaging

Gregory puts together splendid floor game

Continuing to showcase a poised presence out front, Shawnee State graduate student Sanaya Gregory was again lethal from the field for a second consecutive weekend.

With Gloster having her way inside with the Indiana-Kokomo frontline, Gregory proceeded to control matters throughout, providing consistency up top with seven points and two rebounds in both halves of competition to finish with 14 points and four rebounds on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, a 2-of-4 mark from three-point range and a 4-of-5 mark from the free throw line. Gregory also added in three assists to boot, which led the team, and didn't turn the basketball over a single time in one of the East Lansing, Mich. native's most efficient performances of the year.

For the 2024-25 season, Gregory is averaging 7.6 points and 2.3 assists as one of Shawnee State's primary tablesetters alongside fellow starting guard Miyoshi Ellis. Gregory is shooting 84.9 percent from the free throw line for the year as well.

Additional

Shawnee State will take on West Virginia Tech Tuesday, Feb. 4 in a River States Conference contest that will be held at the Raleigh County Convention Center in Beckley, W. Va. Tip off begins at 3 p.m.

Ellis, along with Jada Johnson, each chipped in nine points with Ellis going 3-of-6 from the field and supplying a pair of assists and Johnson adding in two rebounds to boot in 14 minutes off of the bench. Lexi Deaver added six points of her own off of the bench with two second-half three-point field goals, while Nyah Chambers, Jariah Steele and Laken Williams combined for 12 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.

Emily Maynard's three points and two steals and Addison Edmondson's two points and two rebounds rounded out the scoring for Shawnee State.