Women's Basketball: Nov. 29 Scoreboard
Abilene Christian 80, UMKC 55
Lamar 67, St. Thomas 35
Youngstown 51, Nicholls 50
UT-Pan America 75, Houston Baptist 72
Florida A&M 69, Sam Houston State 67
Boston 62, Stephen F. Austin 57
Louisiana-Lafayette 71, Southeastern Louisiana 60
Jacksonville State 63, Central Arkansas 54
No. 25 Mississippi State 85, New Orleans 45
Abilene Christian 80, UMKC 55
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Junior guard Whitney West followed Friday night's heroics vs. George Mason with a career high 24 points Saturday at UMKC, leading the Wildcats to a convincing 80-55 triumph over the Roos during day two of the Plaza Lights Classic at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The victory lifted ACU's season record to 5-1 and gave them first place at the two-day four-team tournament with a 2-0 record. West was named tournament MVP after averaging 19.5 points per game, including the game-winner against the Patriots. Sophomore guard Alexis Mason also made the all-tournament team with 22.0 points per game.
UMKC and George Mason tied for second at 1-1. Mississippi Valley State finished the weekend at 0-2.
Mason followed her 28 points vs. George Mason with 16 points today as she was one of four Wildcats to finish in double figures, joining West, Lizzy Dimba (12 points, 10 rebounds) and Sydney Shelstead, who just missed her third straight double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
West's performance was the third 20-point game of her career and first since netting 20 vs. Jacksonville at Texas Tech last December. Additionally, West reached 600 career points Friday vs. George Mason.
West and the Wildcats pretty much did everything right today against the Roos, finishing with a .438 shooting percentage and 46 points in the paint. They also converted 23 Roos' turnovers (14 steals) into 29 points and had 16 second chance points off 19 offensive rebounds. By comparison, the Wildcats turned over the ball only 11 times - a season low.
At the line, ACU made 7 of 8 free throw attempts while staying out of foul trouble itself.
Defensively, the Wildcats held UMKC to .364 shooting and only five threes. Kiana Law had a good night for the Roos, hitting 8-of-13 shots with three free throws, and Calli White nailed three late treys, but the rest of the UMKC offense struggled aside from those two in combining for just eight field goals.
The Wildcats started the game down 7-2 but three consecutive baskets by Lizzy Dimba, Shelstead and West within a 90-second window gave ACU its first lead of the game at 9-8 withi 15:08 remaining. Then after a jumper by Chandler Roof made it a two-point contest, the Wildcats took off on a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by West that gave ACU it first double-digit lead at 11 points .
Following the under 8-minute media time out, the Wildcats finished the first half on a 20-6 run that included eight points from West, and two treys from Mason. West's three-pointer with 34 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 43-20 lead going into halftime.
George Mason defeated Mississippi Valley State earlier Saturday, 71-62, to finish the classic with a 1-1 record while the Delta Demons fell to 0-2 on the weekend and 0-5 for the season.
The Wildcats return to action Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Texas Tech. ACU defeated the Red Raiders on the road last season, 58-57, for its first win in the series since 1978-79.
Plaza Lights Classic All-Tournament Team
Whitney West - MVP
Alexis Mason
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Lamar 67, St. Thomas 35
Recap to follow.
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Youngstown 51, Nicholls 50
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nicholls State University women’s basketball team battled back from an eight-point deficit in the second half to take the lead over Youngstown State, but a foul in the final seconds with the game tied led to a Penguin free throw as Nicholls fell, 51-50, in its opening game of the Teresa Phillips Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday afternoon at Tennessee Stat’s Gentry Center.
Nicholls (1-2) will wrap up play in the classic on Sunday, taking on Norfolk State (0-4) at noon.
The Colonels shot an abysmal 27 percent from the field in the loss, but the team came through with clutch 3-pointers down the stretch to help erase their deficit. A Jenny Nash 3-pointer led to a 7-0 run to tie the game at 38 with 6:18 to go, and then the senior from Houston drained a 3-ball to give Nicholls its first lead of the half at 41-40.
Emani White hit one from long range at the 5:08 mark for a 44-40 lead, capping a 13-2 run, but Youngstown State (5-0) answered with a 7-0 run. Down three with two minutes remaining, Nicholls got a pair of free throws by Nash before White picked up a steal and finished with a layup to put the Colonels back ahead 48-47.
YSU evened the score with a free throw and took the lead with 29 seconds remaining when Heidi Schlegel knocked down a short jumper on the baseline. Nash came back with a jumper that was off the mark, but Hope Pawlowski corralled the rebound and was fouled with eight seconds left on the clock.
Pawlowski made both free throws to even the score at 50, but was whistled for a foul in the backcourt on the inbounds, sending YSU’s Indiya Benjamin to the line. Benjamin missed the first before connecting on the second.
With time winding down, the Colonels looked to White for the game-winner, but her desperation 3-pointer from the top of the key was off the mark as YSU escaped with the win.
Nash led the Colonels with a game-high 17 points, while White chipped in with nine. White struggled from the field in the loss by making just 3-of-13, but came up with seven of the Colonels’ 14 steals.
Youngstown State, which led 26-22 at the break, had 27 turnovers and shot 34 percent from the field. The Penguins were led by Schlegel and Latisha Walker with 15 points each. The duo teamed up for 22 rebounds as YSU outrebounded Nicholls, 45-33.
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UT-Pan America 75, Houston Baptist 72
EDINBURG, Texas – Houston VBaptist used a 15-2 run in the final seven-plus minutes to cut a 15-point deficit to two, 74-72. After Rickell Preston made one of two free throws to give UTPA a 75-72 lead, Ekemini Essien’s three-point shot hit the back of the rim as the Huskies lost at UT-Pan American, 75-72, Saturday afternoon from the UTPA Fieldhouse.
Shanice Steenholdt scored 24 points to lead HBU (2-3), as she was one rebound shy of a double-double. Monet Neal scored a career-high 23 points, as she went 8-for-12 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the line. She pulled down eight rebounds, as she also dished out two assists and had one block and one steal. Rachel Arthur grabbed a career-high six rebounds, as she scored six points.
Shawnte’ Goff led UTPA (5-3) with 31 points, on 11-of-21 shooting. She went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc and 4-of-9 from the charity stripe. Goff also registered five rebounds, five assists, four steals, and one block. Rickell Preston had 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
UTPA never led in the first half until Goff’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave the Broncs a 40-39 lead at the break. It was one of five treys made for UTPA in the opening half.
HBU began the game scoring eight of the first 10 points. The Broncs battled back to tie the Huskies at 27-all with six minutes remaining in the opening half, on a Preston jumper. After each team exchanged buckets to remain tied at 29-29 with 5:18 to go, HBU used a 7-0 run to take a 36-29 lead with 3:36 remaining in the first half. Both Heidi Sihvola and Arthur had three-point plays in the run.
UTPA chipped away, as Goff hit a three-pointer to put the Broncs within four, 36-32, with 3:24 to go. But the Broncs continued to go on an 8-3 run to close out the first half to lead the Huskies at the break, 40-39. Maisie Elston had made a fast-break layup with 23 seconds remaining to put the Huskies up 39-37, but Goff’s third 3-pointer of the half gave the Broncs the lead heading into the locker room.
Steenholdt led HBU with 15 first-half points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor and 1-of-2 from the line. Neal led the Huskies with five rebounds. Goff had a half-high 16 points for UTPA, going 5-of-13 from the floor, 3-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. Three different Broncs had four rebounds.
UTPA began the second half scoring the first five points of the half and outscoring HBU, 10-2, to take a nine-point lead, 50-41, forcing HBU to take a timeout at the 14:48-mark.
The Broncs used a 30-8 run from the 3:28-mark of the first half until the 12:32-mark of the second half to lead HBU by 13, 59-46.
HBU continued to chip away at the deficit. Down 15, 72-57, with 7:49 remaining in regulation, Sihvola hit a jumper prior to the second media timeout of the half, giving HBU a little life.
Maisie Elston grabbed an offensive rebound at the 5:45-mark and Essien made the layup and was fouled on the play. She missed the free throw, but HBU was only down seven, 72-65.
Down five, 74-69, with three minutes to go, Steenholdt stole the ball from Preston at mid-court, resulting in a foul. Making one of two free throws, the Huskies were down only four, 74-70.
Goff was fouled and missed both free throws, but T’Ondria Nolen grabbed a huge offensive rebound, allowing the Broncs to run more time off the clock, leading by four with 1:07 to go.
Steenholdt made a jumper with 43 seconds left, cutting the deficit to two, 74-72. Neal forced a huge offensive foul on Goff, giving HBU the ball with the chance to tie or take the lead with 24 seconds remaining. Neal went for a layup with 10 seconds, but was blocked by Brittany Bush. The Huskies intentionally fouled and Preston made the front end of two free throws, giving HBU a chance down three with two seconds left. Steenholdt sent a Hail Mary down the length of the court which was caught by Essien. Christian Laettner-esque, she turned and shot at the top of the key, but the ball hit the back of the rim as UTPA held on.
Neal led all players with 16 second-half points, while Goff had 15 points for UTPA.
HBU plays at UTEP next Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 pm central.
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Florida A&M 69, Sam Houston State 67
Dallas, Texas – Amanda Barnes scored 18 points and Taylor Dorsey added 16 as the Sam Houston women’s basketball team fell to Florida A&M 69-67 in the third place game at the SMU Thanksgiving Classic Saturday at Moody Coliseum.
The Bearkats rallied from seven points down in the final minute to have a chance to send the game into overtime. After a layup by Dorsey cut the Rattler margin to two, 69-67, with 42 seconds to go, the SHSU women got the ball back on a turnover with 11 seconds to play.
Saundra Gulliory missed a shot at the buzzer and Florida A&M held on for the win. The Rattlers now are 2-4 while the Bearkats stand 0-5.
Shernise Robertson also scored in double figures for the Bearkats with 14 points. Morghen Day led Sam Houston with six assists and Robertson assisted on five baskets.
Led by Kenya Dixon and Taneka Rubin, each with 17 points, Florida A&M led for 30 minutes, going up by as many as 15 points midway through the second half.
The Bearkats held four-point leads three times in the first half, but the Rattlers took over midway through the period to build a 37-27 halftime lead.
Florida A&M appeared in control with a 14 point lead, 65-51 with 7:07 to play, but the Bearkat women started to claw their way back before falling in the last seconds.
Sam Houston returns to Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Wednesday when the Bearkats play host to Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m.
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Boston 62, Stephen F. Austin 57
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Despite a strong surge in the closing minutes, the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack basketball team fell just short against Boston University, 62-57, in the final game of the University of New Mexico Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday night inside ‘The Pit’.
Trailing by eight points with 4:25 left in the game, the Ladyjacks (3-3) scratched and clawed their way back into the fight. The squad put together a 9-2 run over the next 3:22 with clutch jumpers by seniors Tierany Henderson and Brittney Matthew and two floaters off the fingertips of sophomore Taylor Ross. Matthew’s pull-up shot in the lane with 1:03 remaining capped the run and put SFA within one at 58-57.
On the ensuing Terrier possession, Ross forced a turnover but the Ladyjacks couldn’t capitalize. BU knocked down a pair of free throws to go up 60-57 with 23 seconds on the clock.
SFA would get two good looks in the closing seconds but the shots didn’t fall and BU (3-3) was able to hold on for the 62-57 win.
Henderson led the Ladyjacks with 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting in the game. She hit five triples, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked three shots and picked up two steals in a complete-game effort. Henderson was named to the All-Tournament Team after her huge performance.
Senior Porsha Roberts and Ross each netted eight points in the contest for SFA. Roberts also brought down eight boards and rejected two shots on the evening.
The Ladyjacks got off to a fast start thanks in large part to the hot shooting hand of Henderson. The senior forward knocked down an early three-pointer to help build a 7-2 lead and later capped an SFA 10-0 run with another triple to extend the advantage to 17-10. She made three shots from beyond the arc overall in the half and took 11 points into the locker room on 4-for-7 shooting.
On the other side of the court, SFA forced nine Terrier turnovers before committing its first of the game with 7:47 remaining in the half. The Ladyjacks won the turnover battle 12-3 in the frame and outscored Boston University 14-3 in points off those miscues to hold a 29-25 edge at the intermission.
SFA committed a season-low seven turnovers overall while scoring 22 points off 19 BU turnovers.
The Terriers shot the ball at a 50 percent clip (13-for-16) in the second half compared to a 28.9 percent mark (11-for-38) by the Ladyjacks. The disparity turned out to be the difference in the game.
The Ladyjacks will now return home to Nacogdoches to begin preparing for a Tuesday home game against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The contest will be played inside William R. Johnson Coliseum beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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Louisiana-Lafayette 71, Southeastern Louisiana 60
HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana junior forward Nanna Pool finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds to post her third straight double-double, but it was not enough, as the Lady Lion basketball team fell to in-state foe Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday afternoon in the University Center.
Southeastern (2-3) fell at home for the first time this season. Despite shooting 51.1 percent (24-for-47) from the floor, the Lady Lions could not overcome 26 turnovers. Louisiana-Lafayette (4-0) remained undefeated behind a game-high 23 points from Jalyn Gordon.
Pool was joined in double figures by senior guard Symone Miller and junior guard Peaches Anderson, who finished with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Senior guard Elizabeth Styles paces SLU with six assists and three steals.
Gordon was one of three Ragin’ Cajuns in double figures, along with Kia Wilridge (19 points) and Keke Veal (14 points). Wilridge led ULL with seven rebounds and four assists, while Veal recorded a team-high three steals.
Southeastern jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game and the highly competitive first half featured six ties and six lead changes. The Ragin’ Cajuns finished the half with a 6-0 run and took a 33-29 lead into the break.
The lead would remain four early in the second half, until ULL was able to put some distance in between itself and the host Lady Lions. An 11-3 run was capped by a Wilridge jumper and gave the Ragin’ Cajuns a 51-39 lead with 12:40 remaining.
While SLU would not allow ULL to fully pull away, the Lady Lions could not get back within one possession. Southeastern would get no closer than five the rest of the way.
Southeastern will close out its three-game home stand on Tuesday, hosting William Carey at 7 p.m. in the University Center. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream of the game on the Internet at
www.LionSports.net, where live stats will also be available.
Tuesday will also be the Toys for Tots game, as fans who bring in a toy to be donated to underprivileged children will receive free admission. Sophomore forward Gabrielle Delaune will be Saturday’s Spotlight Player of the Game and the first 100 fans will receive a trading card featuring the Harahan, Louisiana native courtesy of PRIDE.
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Jacksonville State 63, Central Arkansas 54
CONWAY, Ark. — After building an eight point lead on Jacksonville State early in the second half, Central Arkansas was outscored 35-18 over the last 15 minutes as the Sugar Bears fell 63-54 to the Gamecocks in the Farris Center on Saturday.
Trailing by one, the Sugar Bears (2-3) scored nine straight points in just under three minutes – getting a pair of jumpers from Kendara Watts, a Kelsey McClure layup and a three-point play from Raquel Logan – to get out to their biggest lead on the Gamecocks at 36-28 with 15:26 to play.
The Gamecocks (4-1), however, had an answer, coming right back with a 17-2 run over the next five minutes to grab a 45-38 lead. The Sugar Bears countered with seven in a row to draw even with 7:12 to play on a McClure layup, but Jacksonville State seized control of the game by outscoring UCA 12-4 over the next 6:30 to secure the Gamecocks' fourth straight win.
Free throws were a major factor down the stretch as JSU scored 12 of its final 14 points at the line, including making nine in the final two minutes. The Sugar Bears, however, were just 8 of 17 from the line in the half, finishing the game 12-22 (54.5 percent) compared to 17-20 (85 percent) for the Gamecocks.
UCA trailed four with 2:13 left after a Terai Sadler free throw, but JSU's Candace Morton converted a three-point play on the other end to make it 55-48, and after Maggie Proffitt hit one of two free throws for UCA, Morton answered by hitting a pair on the other end with 47 seconds left.
McClure made a pair of free throws for the Sugar Bears and Proffitt followed by stealing the ensuing inbounds pass, then made one of two free throws to cut the JSU lead to five at 57-52 with 26 seconds to go, but the Gamecocks were perfect in their next six attempts to close it out.
UCA was led by Watts' 15 points, while McClure had 10 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, and Logan 9 points, 4 rebounds and a team-leading 2 blocks in 18 minutes off the bench.
Morton had a game-high 21 points for JSU, going 9 of 10 from the line, and Miranda Cantrell had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Sugar Bears travel to Alcorn State on Tuesday, then return home for a pair of games against Central Baptist on Dec. 4 and Southeast Missouri State on Dec. 6.
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No. 25 Mississippi State 85, New Orleans 45
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers women’s basketball team (0-3) were able to hold the 25th ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs (6-0) under 40 percent shooting, but suffered an 85-45 loss on Saturday at the Lakefront Arena.
The Privateers were able to frustrate Mississippi State early, holding the Bulldogs to just 37.9 percent from the field. The Bulldogs though opened up by scoring 15 of the first 17 points as New Orleans struggled to find early offense. The lead for Mississippi State was as large as 26 when they lead 33-7.
New Orleans closed the half by out-scoring the Bulldogs 14-8 over the final 6:47 of the opening 20 minutes of play. In that stretch, the Privateers scored on three straight possessions on two layups and a jumper in the paint. The Privateers were only narrowly out-scored in the paint at 14-12 in the first half.
The Bulldogs were able to coast from there, but still were held to 39.7 percent shooting on the afternoon by New Orleans’ defense. The Bulldogs had 39 free throw attempts on the day to just 26 for the Privateers. New Orleans kept the battle on the boards close, only being out-rebounded 42-38.
Mathilde Fogelstrom led the Privateers while recording the first New Orleans double-double on the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Randi Brown added nine points and Halie Matthews contributed with eight. Kayla Mundy had both of the Privateers blocks.
The Bulldogs had five players in double figures. Victoria Vivians led the team with 16 points. Kayla Nevitt had 15 of Mississippi State’s 37 points off the bench. Dominique Dillingham added 10 points and Morgan William had 10 points along with six assists.
New Orleans will next travel to Phoenix to take on Grand Canyon on Dec. 3. Tip is slated for 9 p.m. CST.