houstonchronicle
In a remarkable season opener, Northwestern State sophomore Chloe Donnell etched her name into the NCAA record books by draining 14 3-pointers, matching the all-time single-game mark. The Louisiana school's new transfer from South Alabama accomplished the feat in a 120-40 rout of Ecclesia on Monday night, finishing with 46 points while attempting 23 shots from long range.
Donnell's performance left even her coach in awe. "I've never seen anything like it," said first-year head coach Alan Frey. "It takes a whole bunch of things going on. We were setting screens for her and sometimes, she just caught the ball and said I'm feeling it, it's a heat check here. We're going to go with that. When we have someone who is on fire, let's lean into that."
The sophomore's previous career high in college was just four points before Monday's explosion. She had 20 points in the first half and then added 17 in the third quarter, including four 3-pointers. The record-tying shot came with 1:18 left, putting her team ahead 120-36.
Donnell tied the record held by Baylor's Juicy Landrum, who achieved the feat in 2019. Her 46-point outburst ranks third in school history, trailing only Pam Hudson (48) and Linda Grayson (47).
"I don't think anything could compare to this," Donnell said after the win. "I have never been much of a scorer. I contribute well defensively and other things, but I just shot the ball well. I knew I was hitting, but I didn't realize it was that many until the fourth quarter."
Key Analysis
Donnell's record-setting night not only highlights her individual talent but also underscores the potential of Northwestern State's offense under Frey, a longtime assistant at Tulane, Monmouth, and Loyola University New Orleans. The Lady Demons will look to carry that momentum into a challenging three-game road trip starting Friday at Arkansas, followed by matchups with Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech. If Donnell can sustain even a fraction of this shooting prowess, Northwestern State could be a team to watch in the Southland Conference.
Originally reported by houstonchronicle.