KEY FREE THROWS IN FINAL SECOND SHOOT SBU TO VICTORY

January 8, 2005

Amber Wheeler led all scorers with 22 points. She only needs nine points to reach 1,000 career points and five three-pointers made to become the SBU all-time leader for three-pointers made.

[Final Stats] [Gamenotes]

BOLIVAR, MO. … Hitting five of their six free throws in the final 24 seconds, the Southwest Baptist University Lady Bearcats (7-6/1-3) picked up their first MIAA win of the 2004-05 season over Pittsburg State (9-4/2-2), 101-95. Amber Wheeler and Jenny Hancock hit both of their free throws in the final 14 seconds to secure the win for SBU.

SBU hit 28-32 free throws in the game and went 24-26 in the second half to gain the win. PSU also shot 81% from the free throw line as they were 26-32.

Wheeler was back in her old form by garnering 22 points to lead all scorers. Gywn Smith had her 31st career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and for the fourth straight game Jennifer Clymore had 17 or more points with 17 points. Hancock added 14. For PSU, Janelle Klein netted 22 points.

In the final minute of play, the Gorillas cut SBU’s lead to two, twice, but both times the Lady Bearcats responded with powerful shots to keep the momentum. With 00:53 left in the game, PSU’s Kami Scrivner hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to two, 97-95, and 16 seconds later Jenny Miller found Hancock under the basket for a layup to push the lead back to four.

Nine seconds later, PSU’s Scrivner turned the ball over to Wheeler and then fouled her. Wheeler canned one of two from the free throw line to make it 97-92. PSU marched down the floor and scored quickly when Melissa Watkins nailed a three-pointer to once again shorten SBU’s lead to two with only 00:16 left to play. SBU put the ball in Wheeler’s hands and she was fouled. She went on to hit both free throws for another four-point lead.

An unsuccessful three-pointer by the Gorillas’ Amanda Koetting was all she wrote as Hancock came down with the rebound and was fouled. Hancock then stepped to the line and swooshed both free throws as SBU went over the century mark for the first time this season.

Ten ties in the first half led to a SBU lead of only six at halftime, 46-40. PSU took a quick 4-0 lead in the first minute and SBU came roaring back to tie the game at six. Three different lead changes happened and then the 10th tie came with 2:51 left in the half when PSU’s Klein hit a three-pointer to make it 36 all. SBU answered the last tie with a 10-6 run to end the half. Putting together their beat half in MIAA play, SBU shot 65% in the first half along with hitting 57% from three-point range.

SBU opened the second half on an 8-2 run to extend their lead to 12, 54-42. At the 14:29 mark, SBU took their largest lead of 13, 65-52. SBU had a commanding 12-point lead, 92-80, with 3:56 to go in the game when PSU put a 12-2 run together in three minutes to bring the Lady Bearcats lead down to two, 94-92. PSU could never get any closer than that.

SBU shot 56% overall all and 35% from beyond the arc. They finished shooting 87% from the free throw line. PSU shot better in the second half (61%) and made 56% of their shots on the game while shooting 50% from three-point range. The Gorillas also out rebounded SBU, 30-28, and SBU had 10 steals.

The Lady Bearcats will take to the road on Wednesday, January 12, when they travel to Rolla, Missouri, to take on the Lady Miners at 5:30 p.m.

NOTES: Gwyn Smith has now tied Paula Herd (1979-83) for second place on the all-time rebounding list with 755 rebounds … Smith needs only 63 more rebounds to surpass Shari Grady to become the all-time rebound leader … Amber Wheeler needs only seven points to reach 1,000 career points at SBU … She now has 993 career points … Wheeler also only needs four made three-pointers to become the all-time leader for career three-pointers made … Ashley Bland need nine more made three-pointers to move into sixth place all-time … This is the fourth straight game that Jennifer Clymore has scored 17 or more points … SBU’s last 100 point game was in the 2003-04 season vs. Ozark Christian as SBU won 100-40 … SBU is now 17-0 when scoring over 100 points and 8-0 under Jim Middleton … Middleton had never started off 0-4 in MIAA and avoided 0-4 start with win over PSU … Middleton only needs 11 more wins to reach 200 wins.