UPSET BID AGAINST #22 NWMSU SPOILED BY LAST SECOND SHOT

January 31, 2003

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Gwyn Smith had her ninth double-double of the year with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

BOLIVAR, MO. ... NWMSU's Jane Chalmers slithered her way around for a the game winning shot with 00:00.4 left on the clock to give the #22 NWMSU Lady Bearcats (16-3/9-1) a 72-70 win over the host Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (12-7/4-6). Amber Wheeler nailed a shot with 00:08 left in the game to tie it.

Wheeler led all scorers with 18 points. Alicia Mercer had her sixth double-double of the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Gwyn Smith posted her ninth with 10 points and 14 rebounds. NWMSU had four players in double figures as Laura Friederich was the leading scorer with 17. Chalmers had 15 points.

SBU had two leads in the first four minutes before NWMSU's Ashley Poptanycz hit a jumper to give them the lead, 9-8. NWMSU would then run their lead to as much as nine, twice, (19-10, 25-14). SBU cut the lead to four, 26-22 with 9:28 to go in the half on two Jenny Hancock free throws. The NWMSU lead would stay between five and six points before NWMSU's Erica Hatterman hit a jumper just before halftime for a 42-34 edge.

NWMSU quickly took a 10-point lead on their opening bucket of the second half, 44-34. SBU's defense then took over with a 7-0 run over five minutes to put themselve back within three, 44-41. In the next three minutes, NWMSU pushed their lead back to nine, 54-45 (11:34), and SBU responded again with another run. In seven minutes, SBU had a 15-7 run to give them the lead, 62-61, with 4:31 to go in the game. In that run, a Wheeler jumper tied the game at 57 before NWMSU retook the lead by two. On the next trip up the floor, Jennifer Clymore canned her jumper to tie the game at 59. After a missed three-pointer by NWMSU, Sarah Vollertsen picked up the rebound and gave NWMSU the lead again. Ashley Bland stepped up to the three-point line and gave SBU the lead back, 62-61.

Two free throws by Chalmers put NWMSU back in front, 63-62, but SBU did not quit as Smith made a layup for the SBU lead again. Vollertsen completed a three-point play with 1:51 to go for a two-point advantage. Just 16 seconds later, SBU tied the game again on two Smith free throws. Vollertsen once again made a layup with 1:24 to go to retake the lead.

WIth 1:11 left, SBU's Mercer hit a jump shot to tie the game a fifth time, 68-68. After each team exchanged the ball, Chalmers sweeped in for a layup and a two-point lead, 70-68. Wheeler answered Chalmers' call with her own shot at the 00:08 mark to tie the game. As it was looking to overtime, Chalmers spoiled SBU's party with the last second shot for the win.

SBU shot 35% from the floor and 77% from the free throw line. They only made four-of-15 three-pointers for 26%. NWMSU held there own with 41% from the floor, 35% from beyond the arc, and 80% from the foul line. SBU did out rebound NWMSU, 42-35.

SBU will host Truman State University at 5:45 on Monday, Februay 2nd, in the Davison Field House.