WHEELER CLAIMS THREE SBU RECORDS FOR WIN AGAINST LADY MINERS

February 18, 2004

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Amber Wheeler broke three SBU records in a road win over Missouri-Rolla. She had 36 points and hit nine three-pointers on 14 attempts.

ROLLA, MO. ... It was a special night for sophomore Amber Wheeler as she led the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (14-10/6-9) to a 84-69 win over Missouri-Rolla to clinch a berth in the Sonic/MIAA Tournament. Wheeler rung up 36 points by hitting nine three-pointers on 14 attempts. All three are new SBU records.

Wheeler's 36 points, a career high, are a new SBU single game record as she surpassed Kim Francis' 35 points against Missouri Baptist on Novermber 19, 1993. Wheeler also broke Francis' record for three-pointers in a game at nine. Francis had hit eight three pointers in the same game in 1993 vs. MBU. Her 14 attempts breaks her own record of 13 that she had broken last year as a freshman. SBU also tied the record for three-pointers made in a game at 12.

Gwyn Smith added 14 points while Alicia Mercer had 11. Freshman Jen Turpin grabbed a career high 10 rebounds to lead SBU.

The first three minutes of hte game proved to be tough as UMR had a 7-5 lead with 16:56 to go in the half. In the next 14 minutes, SBU slowly took control of the game with a 29-11 run and a 16-point advantage, 34-18. In that run, Wheeler hit five of her nine three-pointers. By halftime, SBU had a 14-point lead, 39-25.

In the first half, Wheeler hit seven three-pointers for 21 points.

With 18:03 to go in the game, Wheeler tied the SBU record with her eighth three-pointer. It was not until the 14:26 mark that she broke the record. With nine three-pointers, she was just two short of tying the MIAA record of 11.

SBU kept their double-digit lead until UMR made a run of their own. With 10:04 to go, SBU was up by 16 points, 60-44. In five minutes, UMR cut that lead to seven with a 16-7 run. SBU responded with their own 14-1 run in just over three minutes. WIth 1:53 to go in the game, SBU had a 20-point lead, 81-61. SBU would go on to win by 15-points, 84-69.

Hitting 12 three-pointers on 21 attempts, SBU shot 57% from beyond the arc. They also made 30-61 from the floor for 49%. UMR shot only 41% from the floor and 23% from three-point range. SBU also outrebounded UMR, 37-30.

SBU will host Pittsburg State on Saturday, February 21st, at 1:30 p.m. in the Davison Field House.