Cooper's Milestone Night Highlights Huge Women's Basketball Win

The Wells College women's basketball team earned one of its most convincing wins of the season and celebrated a significant milestone in an 86-47 victory over the College of Saint Elizabeth on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Schwartz Athletic Center in Aurora, N.Y.

Ashida Cooper scored 31 points for Wells, and with four points in the first quarter reached the 1,000-career-points milestone in her career. She achieved that mark in just two years of play for the Express. Cooper is the third player in program history to hit the 1,000-point milestone. In 47 career games, Cooper has scored 1,027 points, which is a 21.9 points-per game average. Cooper is averaging 25.7 points per game this season, which is the best scoring average in NCAA Division III.

Wells started quickly and led 23-11 after the first quarter on Friday night. The lead was 49-24 at halftime. Seven players found the scoresheet and four players scored in double-figures.

Wells improved to 10-12 overall and 9-8 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Saint Elizabeth is 15-9 overall and 13-6 in the NEAC.

In addition to Cooper's 31 points, Carley Ryan scored 16 points and Shelby Medovich and Dallia Rorick scored 13 points each. Julia Smith added nine points. Cooper had 12 rebounds and seven assists, with three blocked shots and six steals.

The Wells defenders totaled 16 steals in the game and forced 25 turnovers by the Eagles, and held the visitors to a 25.7 percent shooting percentage.

Wells wraps up its regular season with a Saturday game at 1 p.m. against Penn College. The Express is still in contention for a NEAC playoff berth with a victory on Saturday and favorable results from other games in the conference.