The 23^rd ranked Charger women's basketball team were firing on all cylinders on day one of the Charger Classic, cruising past the Bethany Swedes 89-51 inside the Newman Flanagan Center Friday evening. Six Chargers finished with double-digit points in the contest.
 
Briar Cliff's full court pressure on the defensive side of the floor held Bethany to three-for-12 from the field in the first quarter.
 
Kennedy Benne converted on an and-one attempt to open the scoring for the Chargers after a stop on the other end of the floor. Adrianna Webster scored two straight points from the low block to put BCU on a small 7-0 run and forcing a Bethany timeout. Briar Cliff took a 22-6 lead following a three from Grace Flanagan to close out the half.
 
The Cliff led by 25 powered by a three and a pair of free throws from Mallie McNair to end the half.
 
McNair paved the way for the Cliff with 16 points while shooting 50% from the field and knocking down a pair of threes in the contest. She grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists.
 
Flanagan went four-for-nine from downtown and snatched a game high five steals. Webster added 10 points and grabbed seven boards.
 
The Cliff's bench poured in 41 points in the contest, led by Kenna Mongan, who scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Brigid Boyle and Kylie Sanger chipped in 11 points. Boyle hauled in seven boards while going five-for-six from the charity stripe.
 
BCU held Bethany to just 34% from the field, and just 25% from three while forcing 27 turnovers.
 
The Chargers improve to 1-0 and will return to action tomorrow to host the Vikings of Valley City State. Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. inside the Newman Flanagan Center.