COLUMBIA, Mo. – In front of a lively home crowd, the Stephens Stars celebrated Senior Night in style, securing a dominant 77-33 victory over the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP) on Thursday evening at Silverthorne Arena. The win marked the Stars' sixth consecutive victory as they honored their eight seniors in their final home game of the regular season.
Before tip off, the program recognized seniors Trinitee Alexander, Chu Crockett, Jordyn Gray, Lillian Harris, Taylor Norris, LaiJanique Perry-Ellis, Casandra Sams, and Kaitlyn Simms for their contributions to Stephens basketball.
Crockett recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Norris contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Perry-Ellis added 12 points and three steals. The Stars dominated the glass, outrebounding UHSP 45-22, and shot 50% from the field. The Stars' 44-point victory marked their largest margin of victory this season.
The Stars wasted no time setting the tone, with Perry-Ellis getting Stephens on the board within the opening seconds. The energy from the team and crowd fueled a dominant first quarter.
Stephens took control in the second quarter, outscoring UHSP 20-7 behind strong defensive pressure and crisp ball movement. Linn, Mo. standout, Aushara Hostetler, made history, setting a new career record with 109 made three-pointers in just two years as a Star.
Chu Crockett was dominant in the paint, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double. By halftime, the Stars held a commanding 36-16 lead.
Coming out of the break, the Stars continued their relentless attack, holding UHSP to just six points in the third quarter.
Alexander and Perry-Ellis led the charge with key defensive stops and transition baskets, while Hostetler and Paula Puzule drained three-pointers to extend the lead to 54-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
Stephens closed out the game scoring 23 points in the final period. The bench contributed 27 points. Defensively, the Stars racked up 13 steals, forcing UHSP into 26 turnovers.
With the regular season finale approaching, Stephens (19-8, 16-5 AMC) will hit the road on Saturday, Feb. 22, for a 1 p.m. showdown at Central Baptist College. The outcome will determine final seeding for the AMC postseason tournament, with details to be released on Sunday, Feb. 23.
