|
TWU Home > Student Life > Athletics > Basketball > 12/9/06
TWU SLIPS PAST EAST CENTRAL 63-62
 ADA , Oklahoma (Dec. 9) – A balanced offensive effort and several clutch plays down the stretch carried the Texas Woman's University Pioneers to a 63-62 road win over the East Central University Tigers on Saturday night in Ada, Oklahoma.
Three players totaled double-digit points in the win for the Pioneers. Senior post Margaret Wimbish led the way with a game-high 17 points. Junior forward Savannah Thompson contributed 14 points, and freshman post Chelsea Cook added 10 points. Freshman forward Taja Guerin also chipped in with 8 points of her own.
The offensive versatility helped TWU play with the lead for the majority of the game. At halftime, the Pioneers held a five-point advantage at 34-29. In the second half, TWU pulled ahead even further, extending their margin to eleven points, 52-41, with 9:11 left in regulation. The Tigers, however, refused to fold, and they battled all the way back to tie the game at 54 with under three minutes to play.
TWU would answer the ECU charge. On the next Pioneers possesion, sophomore guard Maggy Deweber knocked down a three-point shot to put TWU back on top 57-54. Three free throws by the Tigers (one by center Jastin Flenory and two from guard Lacey Goldwire) tied the game again at 57.
An unlikely hero then stepped up for the Pioneers. With just 42 seconds remaining, senior guard Lindsey McCutcheon (pictured) drained her first three-point basket of the season to give TWU a 60-57 lead that they would never relinquish.
ECU had no response for McCutcheon's dramatic shot, thus they were forced to foul and send TWU to free thrown line in the game's waning moments. Again, the Pioneers responded. Junior guard Brandi Crouch made one free throw with 21 seconds to play and then Wimbish hit two free throws with 8 seconds showing on the clock to move the TWU lead to 63-59. A three-point shot by Kacey Thomas with three seconds left proved to be too little too late for ECU, and the Pioneers walked off the court with a one-point win, 63-62.
TWU head coach Rene Hanebutt said her team's strong play late in the game was the key to the win.
"We had an answer every time they made a run at us. And, one thing I really liked, was that it was different players stepping up for us. First, Maggy (Deweber) hits a big three. Then, after ECU tied it again, McCutcheon drains her huge shot. In the end, both Brandi and Marge hit big free throws for us. If we're going to win close games like this one, we need that kind of contrbution from everybody on the court," said Hanebutt.
With 15 points, junior forward Kristie Dodgion was the high scorer in the loss for ECU (4-4, 0-0 in the LSC North).
The narrow victory improves the Pioneers record to 4-4 (0-0 in the LSC South) on the season. TWU will next play on Saturday, December 16, when they open Lone Star Conference South Division play with a 7:00 p.m. road game at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Pioneers next home game will come on Thursday, December 21, with a 7:00 p.m. rematch against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Kitty Magee Arena.
For additional information, please contact the TWU Sports Information Office at (940) 898-2373.
|
