LADY BEARCATS FALL SHORT, 72-67, vs. MISSOURI WESTERN

January 24, 2003

Box

Freshman Jen Turpin had a career high 13 points.

BOLIVAR, MO. ... In the last five minutes of the game, Missouri Western State College (13-4/5-3) went on a 10-4 run to secure a win over Southwest Baptist University (11-6/3-5), 72-67. SBU had been down by as many as 14 before they took the lead 63-62 with 4:54 left to play in the game. The Lady Griffons then made their run for their 13th win.

Amber Wheeler had 23 points, her 13th career 20+ point game, to lead the Lady Bearcats. Jen Turpin came off the bench to have her best game, ever, as a Lady Bearcat with 13 points and three rebounds. Gwyn Smith led the team in rebounding with 11 on her way to her sixth double-double of the year. Tying her career-high in assists, Jenny Miller had 10. Eldra Paixao led four Lady Griffons in double figures with 23 points.

Missouri Western had the first points of the game with 18:32 to go and went up 4-0 at the 16:16 mark in a slow shooting first four minutes. Jennifer Clymore finally put SBU on the board at the 15:58 mark to make it 4-2. MWSC controlled the momentum of the first half as they slowly kept their lead at seven points for most of the half. With 2:57 to go, Alisa Biasdel hit a three-pointer to put them up by 10, 33-23. A Miller free throw at the end of the half cut he lead to eight, 37-29, at halftime.

Amber Wheeler recorded her 13th career 20+ point game vs. MWSC.

Emotions ran high in the second half for both teams. MWSC ran their lead to 14, 48-34, in the first five minutes. From that point on, SBU sparked their offense and went on a 29-14 run to take the lead, 63-62, with 4:54 left in the game on two free throws by Jen Turpin. In that run, there were four three-pointer with two of them by Amber Wheeler. Once again, MWSC responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 69-63, with 1:34 to go. SBU did cut the score to three, 69-66, with 42 seconds left but MWSC hit another layup as it was too late for SBU to come back.

Shooting wise, SBU broke out of their dry spell by hitting 45% from the floor and 47% from three-point range. MWSC shot 55% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc. SBU out rebounded MWSC, 26-22 but had 15 turnovers. There were 40 fouls called in the contest and 40 free throws shot.

SBU will look to get back on the winning side of things as they travel to Truman State on Wednesday, January 28th, for a 5:30 gametime in Kirksville.