LADY BEARCATS POST LATE RUN FOR EIGHT POINT WIN OVER CMSU

January 7, 2003

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Gwyn Smith recorded her sixth double-double of the season. She is the top rebounder in the MIAA

WARRENSBURG, MO. ... In the final three minutes of the game, the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (9-3/1-2) put together a 12-4 run to capture their first MIAA win of the season over Central Missouri State University (8-4/1-2), 68-60. Senior Alicia Mercer posted her fourth double-double of the year with 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Lady Bearcats. Gwyn Smith also recorded her sixth double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Amber Wheeler, the MIAA leader in scoring, added 15 points and seven rebounds in the victory.

Three lead changes and two ties took place in the first half. SBU took a quick 6-2 lead and kept the four-point lead until the 14:36 mark. With SBU being up, 10-6, CMSU made an 8-0 run to take their own four-point lead, 14-10, with 12:58 left in the half. CMSU ran their lead to six points, 18-12, before SBU would answer. The Lady Bearcats responded in a huge way as they put together 14-3 run over six minutes for a 26-21 advantage (4:48). CMSU did not go away as the lead was cut to one before SBU extended back to six. The Jennies then hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to bring the halftime score to 33-30, SBU.

Southwest Baptist kept their lead for most of the second half. They took as large as a seven-point lead, twice, but saw it slip away over a four minute time span. SBU had a 42-35 lead with 14:28 to go in the game. By the 10:05 mark, CMSU had the lead back, 47-46, on a 12-4 run. The Lady Jennies kept their lead between one and four points for the next seven minutes. It was a Smith jumper that tied the game at 56 with 3:03 left that sparked SBU's 12-4 run for the victory.

SBU will look to even their MIAA record against Pittsburg State University on Saturday, January 10th, at 5:30 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kansas.