EXTENDED WU RUN ENDS SBU SHOT OF UPSET

February 10 , 2005

Gwyn Smith had a game high 23 points off of 9-14 shooting from the field including a perfect 3-3 from the three-point line.

[Final Stats] [Gamenotes]

BOLIVAR, MO. … Right as it looked like Southwest Baptist was going to retake the lead in the second half, the #4 Washburn University Lady Blues reeled off a 34-11 run in 12 minutes for an 88-64 lead. SBU cut the lead to one, 50-49, with 14:21 left in the game when WU started their run.

Gwyn Smith led all scorers with 23 points for SBU and Jennifer Clymore added 18. Jennifer Harris netted 22 points for WU. Casey Beavers was SBU’s leading rebounder with eight.

WU jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead before SBU’s Smith hit their first bucket just 1:41 into the game. The Lady Blues extended their lead to nine, 19-10, with 13:13 left in the half when SBU 18-9 run to claim a three-point lead, 28-25 (7:13). Smith had eight of the 15 points in the run while Clymore put up seven. Amber Wheeler’s three-pointer at the 7:13 mark gave SBU the lead.

The lead was then exchanged four times before SBU had a 6-2 run for a four-point advantage, 38-34, with 2:54 left in the half. WU battled back to tie the game at 38 and then Beavers went one-of-two from the free throw line (1:08) to put SBU back up by one. WU missed two shots in the final minute to reclaim the lead at the half as SBU held on to their lead.

Breaking out on a 5-0 run to begin the second half, WU took a four-point lead, 43-39, in the first 1:15. SBU tied the game at 43 on two Clymore free throws and that is as close as the Lady Bearcats would get to knocking off the #4 team in the country as WU scored the next seven points to take control of the game, 50-43. SBU made one last attempt at the Lady Blues with a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one, 50-49, but once again WU showed why they are a top five team in the nation with their 34-11 run in 12 minutes for the win.

SBU stayed close in the first half in part to shooting 87% from three-point range. They turned around and only shot 28% in the second half to finish shooting 60% from beyond the arc. They did shot 40% from the floor and 68% from the free throw line. WU came away shooting 56% from the floor, 52% from three-point land, and 80% from the stripe. SBU was out rebounded 36-28 and turned the ball over 15 times.

The Lady Bearcats will travel to Joplin to take on Missouri Southern on Saturday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m.

NOTES: Gwyn Smith recorded her 9th 20+ point game in her career … Smith was also 3-of-3 from the 3-point line … Post player Jenny Hancock went 1-of-2 from three-point land and is now 2-of-4 in the last two games … SBU has not defeated WU since the 2000-01 season, 73-65, as the Lady Blues have won the last nine meetings … Jennifer Clymore has scored 10 or more points in every MIAA game this season and scored 15 or more points in seven of those 13 games.