PEORIA, Ill. – The eighth-ranked Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's basketball team defeated Robert Morris – Peoria on Saturday, 96-65. The victory moves SMWC to 10-9 overall and 6-1 in USCAA play.

Junior Shelby Parmer led all Pomeroys in scoring with 22 points, while four others also finished in double figures. Sophomore Tara Parmer recorded 17 points, freshman Callan Taylor notched 14 points, junior Ja'Breena Gardner recorded 12 and junior Kennedy Nelson notched 10. Gardner led SMWC on the glass with a team-high seven rebounds, while T. Parmer dished out a game-high seven assists and six steals.

SMWC's defense forced 36 turnovers and recorded 25 steals to go with 38 percent (39-of-102) shooting from the field.

The Eagles gave the Pomeroys a fight in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 15-6 lead halfway through the quarter. Three-pointers by Gardner, senior Grace Ziegler and Taylor paired with a jumper by Nelson gave the Pomeroys the lead, 17-15, with 3:27 left. The Eagles didn't go away though and took a 24-20 lead into the second quarter.

The Pomeroys owned the final three quarters after taking the lead 29-28 with 4:57 to play in the second. SMWC went on to outscore the Eagles 27-12 in the second quarter, 26-15 in the third and 23-14 in the fourth. 11 different Pomeroys scored in the game as SMWC led by double figures for the final 20 minutes of the game.

The Pomeroys will be back in action on January 28 when they head to NCAA DII Oakland City for an 8 p.m. tipoff.