Assumption secured a dominant 72-35 victory over Calloway County in their opening round matchup of the 2026 KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena on March 12, 2026.
Assumption controlled the pace from the opening tip, leading for over 31 minutes and never allowing Calloway County to take the lead at any point in the game. They established an early 18-9 advantage by the end of the first quarter and continued to pull away, heading into halftime with a comfortable 35-17 lead. The game was blown wide open in the third quarter when Assumption’s defense completely stifled Calloway County, outscoring them 17-4 in the period and utilizing a 15-0 run to build an insurmountable 31-point advantage heading into the final frame. They eventually stretched their lead to as much as 37 points before the final buzzer.
Key Factors and Statistics:
- Shooting Efficiency: Assumption put on a highly efficient offensive display, shooting 51.0% (26-of-51) from the field, 41.7% from three-point range, and 88.2% from the free-throw line. In contrast, Calloway County struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 30.6% (11-of-36) overall and a mere 9.1% (1-of-11) from beyond the arc.
- Turnovers and Interior Play: Assumption’s defense forced 19 Calloway County turnovers, heavily capitalizing on these mistakes by scoring 25 points off turnovers. Assumption also dominated inside the paint, outscoring Calloway County 34-16.
Standout Performances:
- Assumption: Ashlinn James was highly effective, leading all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, along with 5 rebounds. Se’Rae Bundrent-Palmer was a major secondary threat, adding 18 points and knocking down a pair of three-pointers. Kylie Moore provided a tremendous spark off the bench with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and a game-high 4 steals.
- Calloway County: Sayler Lowe was the top performer for her squad, fighting for a team-high 12 points and 7 rebounds. Jaidan Koch was the only other Calloway County player to reach double digits, finishing with 10 points while shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
