by St. Louis, MO – In their season opener, the Parkside Rangers defeated the Maryville Saints on the road. The Rangers dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Saints 59-37, their largest margin against another Division II opponent since December 18, 2017, against Puerto Rico Bayamon. Four Rangers players reached double figures in rebounds, and two recorded double-doubles.
Inside the Box Score:
- Sheridan Flauger neared a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
- Cassidy Arni completed a double-double with 18 points (3-4 3P) and 11 rebounds.
- Peighton Nelson netted 16 points in her Rangers debut.
- For the first time since January 8, 2024, against Benedictine, two Rangers players finished with double-doubles.
- Lillie Petersen (11) and Kaalyn Petersen (10) combined for 21 rebounds in their first collegiate game together.
From Coach Conely:
“Big road win for our squad! I’m really proud of our effort and togetherness. It wasn’t pretty or perfect but we stayed together and found a way to get it done. We really focused on rebounding and our squad did a fantastic job on the defensive glass, to make sure they had one-and-done’s and no extra shots. Offensively, we missed some shots we normally make but it was great to be able to rely on our defense. Looking forward to continuing to get better as we have a quick turnaround against UMSL tomorrow.”
How it Happened:
In the first game of the 2024-25 season, both teams took time to shake off the rust. Both squads shot under 20% in the first quarter, with just 19 total points scored. Junior transfer Peighton Nelson started the scoring for Parkside, converting a three-point play after grabbing an offensive rebound. After a similar play by Chloe Van Zeeland at the end of the first quarter, the Rangers held an 11-8 advantage going into the second.
The scoring picked up as both teams settled in. Cassidy Arni, scoreless in the first quarter, broke out in the second with a quick layup, followed by a triple and another two-point make in a span of three minutes. The Rangers rebounded exceptionally well, grabbing seven offensive boards in the first half and out-rebounding the Saints 35-21 overall. Peighton Nelson capped off the quarter by turning a Sheridan Flauger takeaway into an easy transition layup. Nelson scored 11 first-half points, and the Rangers led 30-21 at halftime.
Maryville started strong in the second half, hitting their first three shots to close the gap. However, the Rangers held steady, matching the Saints’ scoring. Arni continued her hot streak, hitting an early three-pointer to extend Parkside’s lead. The Rangers erupted in the third quarter, scoring a game-high 26 points with four three-pointers, led by Sheridan Flauger’s 14 points in the quarter. Parkside entered the final quarter leading 56-45.
The Rangers cruised to victory, containing the Saints in the fourth quarter. They made 20 free throws in the second half and dominated the boards, giving themselves numerous second-chance opportunities. They outscored the Saints 16-6 in second-chance points.
