Davenport Assumption's inside strength was too much for Unity Christian

Top-ranked Assumption jumped to a 21-2 lead in the first quarter and that margin stood up in a 63-44 victory over 13th-ranked Unity in the final game of the Class 2A tournament's opening round.

Alyson Spinas-Valainis scored 16 points to lead Assumption (25-0) and teammate Gabbie Binion tied a state tournament record with 13 assists.

Binion got most of those assists on passes to Spinas-Valainis and Lauren Lybbert in the low post. Spinas-Valainis made seven of 11 shots, while Lybbert shot 5-for-8 in scoring 11 points. Annie Smith also scored 11 for Assumption.

Assumption outrebounded Unity 44-26 and piled up a 38-12 edge in points in the paint.

Binion, who made her only shot in the game, also grabbed seven rebounds and tied the tournament assist record set by Cedar Rapids Jefferson's Tara Hupfeld against Solon in 1993.

Kendra De Jong led Unity Christian (23-3) with 16 points and Rebekah Ahrenholz scored 13.

Assumption had a 12-0 lead before Unity Christian made a shot. The Knights then ran off nine straight points to go up by 19 heading into the second quarter.

But Unity didn't fold and started the quarter with a 12-0 run to draw to 21-14. After regrouping in a timeout, Assumption built the lead to 32-18 and led by double digits the rest of the way.

The 19-point margin made it one of Assumption's closest games of the season. The Knights came in with an average victory margin of 36 and did not have a district or regional game closer than 27.