SBU PICKS UP THIRD StrAIGHT VICTORY

November 24, 2003

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BOLIVAR, MO. ... In the fourth game of the season, the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (3-1) started with the lead and never looked back as they rolled over Henderson State University (1-2), 68-51. Gwyn Smith hit the opening bucket and SBU never gave up the lead. HSU tied the game only once in the first five minutes of the game.

Three Lady Bearcats were in double figures with Amber Wheeler leading the way with 20. Jenny Miller canned 13 while Smith added 12. Jenny Hancock and Jenni Jones were the leading rebounders with seven each.

Smith scored the first four-points of the game to take a quick 4-0 lead. HSU cut it to two and then Alicia Mercer made it a 6-2 lead at the 17:53 mark. In the next three minutes, SBU only scored two points and HSU tied the game at eight with 14:27 left in the half. SBU put together an 11-4 run to jump out to an eight-point lead, 19-12, at the 7:16 mark. HSU's Maggie Sauls cut SBU lead to five with 5:01 left, but SBU finished the half strong on a 9-2 run to take a 12-point lead into halftime, 30-18.

Henderson State came up charged up in the second half as they cut SBU's lead to three in the first five minutes with a 13-4 run to make it 34-31. SBU responded with a 22-4 run over an eight minute span to take command of the game with a 21-point lead, 56-35. HSU never recovered as SBU went on for the 17-point win.

SBU only shot 37% from the floor but made 90% of their free throws. They forced 22 turnovers and had eight steals. SBU also outrebounded HSU, 44-29.

The Lady Bearcats will be back in action again on Tuesday, December 2nd, when they host Rockhurst University at 7 p.m. in the Davison Field House.