UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 14-ranked Indiana Tech women's basketball team opened up its season on Wednesday evening with a 76-61 win over regional rival Taylor at Odle Arena.
 
Before the game, the two teams held a moment of remembrance for Rick Welsh, a former bus driver for American Heritage Trails, who passed away tragically two years ago at the Tech-Taylor game due to a heart attack. Welsh drove the women's basketball team many times while working for American Heritage and Coach Jessie Biggs said that Rick was in our prayers and thoughts today.
 
DeAnn Kauffman led the Warriors with a career-high 20 points on 6-11 shooting while adding four rebounds, two blocks and two steals. All-American Keanna Gary picked up right where she left off last year, recording a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Kendall Knapke tallied 19 points, six rebounds and four steals. Haley Cook added 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals while Bella Lozano-Dobbs dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Knapke would lead things off with a three-pointer to give Tech the first lead of the ball game, but the Trojans would respond with back-to-back triples of their own. Knapke and Cassidy Wyse would trail three-pointers for the games next nine points before Baylee Rinehart put the Warriors up 11-9 with a jumper at the 6:01 mark in the first quarter.
 
The Warriors would increase their lead to 19-11 in the first thanks to jumpers from Isis Parker and Kauffman, but Taylor would answer back with 6-0 to cut the deficit to 19-17.
 
It would be the Kauffman and Gary show in the second as the duo combined for 12 of the Warriors 14 points as the visitors went into the locker room leading 35-28.
 
A pair of free throws from Cook would extend Tech's lead to double digits at the 6:50 mark in the third, but the Trojans would cut the deficit to four at 44-40 with 3:39 left in the quarter. A 7-0 spurt from Tech would put them up 55-43 and springboard the visitors into the fourth as the built their lead up to as many as 16 at 63-47.
 
The Warriors would weather a late charge from the Trojans, who cut the Tech lead to 68-59 with 2:10 left in the game, but the Orange and Black would go 8-10 from the free throw line in the final two minutes of the game to secure the win.
 
Tech (1-0) returns to action on Saturday as they open up their home slate with a visit from two-time defending NAIA Division II National Champion and No. 1-ranked Marian. Tipoff is set from 3 p.m. from the Schaefer Center.