|
TWU
Home > Student
Life > Athletics > Basketball > 1/23/08
ANGELO STATE HOLDS OFF TWU 62-59
Box Score
DENTON, Texas (January 23) - A potential game-tying three-point shot by TWU junior post player Renee Renz caromed off the rim at the final buzzer, leaving the Pioneers on the wrong end of a 62-59 score in a Lone Star Conference South Division game versus the Angelo State University Rambelles on Wednesday night at Kitty Magee Arena in Denton.
Renz, who came into the game leading TWU in three-point shooting field goal percentage (.433), got a relatively good look at the Pioneers’ final shot. The play was created when TWU senior forward Savannah Thompson was double-teamed at the top of the key and tossed a pass to Renz standing behind the arc on the left elbow extended. With ASU sophomore forward Lindsey Leatherman jumping out at her, Renz lofted the ball into the air. Unfortunately for TWU, her shot came up short as time expired.
“That was what we wanted,” said TWU head coach Beth Jillson after the game. “The play was drawn up for either Savannah or Renee to take that last shot. The defense reacted to Savannah, and gave Renee an opening. It looked good when it left her hand.”
That the game was decided on a last second shot was only fitting. The contest was a tight one throughout, featuring seven lead changes and four ties.
The final tie of the game came at 50 with 5:37 left to play. That’s when ASU senior forward Kandra Lakey took control. The two-time All-LSC South Division second team selection got free in the paint to score seven of the Rambelles next eleven points and stake her team to a 61-57 lead with just 33 seconds remaining on the clock.
“Lakey’s an exceptional player,” said Jillson. “She stepped up and made the plays down the stretch to help her team win the ballgame. We had some breakdowns defensively that allowed her to get open, and, to her credit, she made us pay.”
TWU sophomore guard Jessica Durr responded to Lakey’s surge with a driving layup of her own to pull TWU to within two, 61-59, with 17 seconds left to play. A Pioneer foul on the ensuing ASU inbounds pass sent the Rambelles’ Leatherman to the line with a chance to ice the game for the visiting team. Leatherman made her first free throw, but missed the second, setting the stage for the last gasp attempt to tie by Renz and TWU.
“I’m not a big believer in moral victories,” explained Jillson, “but I still feel pretty good about our team after this one tonight. ASU is one of the top team’s in our conference, and we were right there with a chance to win at the end. This squad is making progress, and, once they put it all together, they are going to be pretty tough to beat.”
 Durr (pictured) led all scorers in the game with 17 points. Renz and Thompson finished with 11 points apiece for the Pioneers
(5-11, 0-3 LSC South). Thompson also grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds.
Reserve forward Tiffany Hardwell was the Rambelles (15-3, 2-1 LSC South) top scorer in the win with 14 points. Freshman guard Camille Perkins chipped in 13 points for ASU while Leatherman and Lakey totaled 11 and ten points respectively.
TWU will be back in action on their home court this Saturday, January 26, when they host the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas at 2:00 p.m.
|
