StrONG SECOND HALF PUSHES SBU TO VICTORY

SMITH BECOMES ALL-TIME SBU REBOUNDER AT 818

February 2 , 2005

Gwyn Smith is now the all-time rebounding leader in SBU history with 818 in her career.

[Final Stats] [Gamenotes] [Pictures]

KIRKSVILLE, MO. … Scoring just two-points in the first half, Amber Wheeler unleashed for 21 points in the second half as she led Southwest Baptist University to a 67-64 win over Truman State. SBU shot 55% (5-9) from three-point range in the second half. The win also snapped SBU’s five game losing streak and put them ½ game ahead of TSU in the MIAA standings.

Wheeler did not make any shots from the floor in the first half as her points came from two made free throws. She then made 7-of-13 shots from the floor and went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc to finish with 23 points. Jennifer Clymore added 15 and Gwyn Smith 11.

Coming into the game, Smith only needed six rebounds to surpass Sheri Grady as the all-time rebounder at SBU. She then grabbed six rebounds to move into first place with 818 career rebounds. She is currently averaging 10.3 rebounds per game and is leading the MIAA for the third straight year.

Truman State took their only lead in the first half on a three-pointer from the beginning of the game. SBU cut the lead to one, 3-2, on two Casey Beavers free throws at the 17:45 mark. Thos free throws sparked a 9-0 run as the Lady Bearcats cruised out to a six-point lead, 9-3, in the first 6:27 of the game.

Smith gave SBU an eight-point lead, 15-7, with 10:36 to go as that was the largest lead in the first half. SBU led by eight at one more point in the first half when Clymore nailed a jumper with 2:10 until the half.

TSU’s Annie Westhoff put the Bulldogs within in two, 17-15 at the 7:22 mark, but that is as close as they would get in the first half. SBU would take a five-point advantage into the locker, 27-22.

A 10-3 run by the Bulldogs to start the second half gave them their second lead of the game, 32-30, when Natalie Schupbach hit two free throws. In the next 6:11, SBU shot back with an 18-6 run to take a commanding 10-point lead, 48-38, with 10:33 left to play. Wheeler sparked the run and gave SBU the lead back at the 16:44 mark as she hit the first of three three-pointers in the second half.

Like many other games in the the 2004-05 seasson, SBU could never find the knock out punch in the second half as they would let teams back into the game after taking a large lead. The Lady Bearcats did not want to falter again, but did leave a crack in the door for TSU.

In the next four minutes, TSU responded with a 14-4 run to tie the game at 52 with just 6:38 to go in the game. Kirksville native Trisha Lyons put SBU back in front with a 10-foot shot but TSU retied the game just 50 seconds later as they made only two of four free throws in that time span.

Kelli Floyd broke the third tie of the second half on a three-pointer at the 5:00 mark but Wheeler retied the game at 57 with her own three-pointer just under a minute later.

Trailing by one 60-59, with 2:45 to go in the game, Wheeler made two straight free throws that put SBU in front for good. TSU cut the lead to one, again, with 1:32 to go but Smith’s 818th rebound turned into a three-point play when she was fouled and SBU took a four-point lead, 66-62, with 1:13 left when she converted the three-point play.

TSU came within two on a Westhoff shot with 38 seconds but Jenny Miller hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to three 67-64 with just 00:18 left in the game.

SBU finished shooting 40% from the floor, 35% from three-point range, and 65% from the free throw line. They held TSU to just 37% from the floor and 20% from three-point range. TSU out rebounded SBU, 42-38, and had three more turnovers than SBU, 19-16.

The Lady Bearcats will host Missouri Western at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 5, in the Meyer Sports Center.