LADY BEARCATS HOLD OFF ROCKHURST IN FINAL MINUTES

November 24, 2004

Ashley Bland hit several key shots to help SBU to victory over Rockhurst University. She also added 21-points and was the leading scorer.

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KANSAS CITY, MO. … Senior Ashley Bland stepped up her game and pushed Southwest Baptist over Rockhurst University as she nailed the go-ahead shot with just under three minutes left in the game to give SBU a 53-52 lead. SBU went onto a 60-55 win and outscored RU, 9-3, in the final four minutes of the game for the win. They are now 3-0 on the year.

With the win, Coach Jim Middleton has started out 3-0 in eight of his 11 seasons at SBU.

Bland led all scorers with 21 points as she hit four-of-six three-pointers. Gwyn Smith recorded her first double-double of the 2004-05 season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Jenny Hancock also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Slow out of the gates was the SBU offense as they did not hit their first bucket until the 15:27 mark when Gwyn Smith made a layup. SBU then scored seven points in a minute and a half to take the lead, 9-8, on an Ashley Bland three-pointer. RU retook the lead at the 11:30 mark, 10-9, but SBU bounced back with a 10-0 run in four minutes for a nine-point lead, 19-10. With 6:46 to go, Jenny Miller canned a three-pointer to put SBU up by 10, 22-12. She hit another three-pointer at the 2:44 mark to make it a 12-point lead, 29-17. SBU then took a 12-point lead into the half when Casey Beavers hit a free throw to make it 33-21.

It was a different story in the second half for both teams as RU came out fighting. RU opened the first 10 minutes of the second half on a 26-10 run to take a one-point lead at the 9:59 mark, 44-43. They then extended it to a three-point lead, 49-46, with only 8:16 left to go in the game. At the 4:05 mark, Bland tied the game but RU made a jumper just 15 seconds later to retake the lead, 52-51. Bland then hit the go-ahead shot with 2:58 left to play as SBU went on for the victory.

The Lady Bearcats did not shoot well the entire game as they only hit 35% of their shots and made only 28% from three-point range. They did outrebound RU, 33-31, and forced 12 turnovers.

SBU will try for a 4-0 record as they face Lone Star Conference opponent Northeastern State University on Saturday, November 27, at 3 p.m. in Oklahoma.