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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 2002-03
News > November 22
#2 MISSOURI WESTERN
HANDS PIONEERS 51-76 LOSS TO OPEN SEASON
ABILENE,
Tex.—The No. 2 ranked basketball team in
Division II, Missouri Western State College (1-0), jumped out
to a 25-2 lead eight minutes into the first half and never
let Texas Woman's University (0-1) back into the game, winning
game one of the Abilene Christian Classic, 51-76. The Pioneers
shot 34.4% from the floor and were led in scoring by Keshun
Irving (Karnack, TX/Tyler J.C.), who chipped in with
15 points and a team-high five steals.
“The team went into the game intimidated and it showed
on the court during the first half. That can happen when you
play such a great team with a high ranking and it proved to
be the difference in the game,” head coach Devin
Gabbard said. “The girls settled down and played well in the second
half. If they played with the effort in the first half they
showed in the second period, it might have been a different
game.”
Jessica
Springer (Kirbyville, TX/Blinn College) scored
TWU's first basket of the season at the 18:55 mark, making
the score 2-5. That turned out to be the last basket the Pioneers
would make during the next eight minutes as Missouri Western
went on a 20-0. Sonya Hodge (Eustace, Tex./Paris J.C.) ended
an 11-shot shooting drought when she banged in a three-pointer
with 11:52 on the clock to bring the score to 5-25. MWSC opened
their lead to as much as 29 points, but TWU battled back and
went into the half trailing 21-44. The Pioneers shot a miserable
27% from the field, making 9 of 33 shots while MWSC converted
almost 60% of their attempts. TWU opened the second period
on a 12-2 run and brought the lead to within 13 points, 33-46.
MWSC kept the pressure on and caused the Pioneers to give up
36 turnovers, never allowing them to close the gap. Missouri
Western's Haylee Reiche ended the game with a three-pointer,
making the final score 51-76.
The Pioneers finished the game going 22 of 64 from the field
for 34.4% and 2 of 7 from beyond the arc for 28.6%. As a team,
TWU recorded 10 assists, 36 turnovers, three blocks and 12
steals while visiting the free-throw line 10 times and making
five of those chances. Hodge was the Pioneers second leading
scorer with 11 points, followed by Springer with eight points
and two steals. Jennifer Ferrell (Flower Mound, Tex./Paris
J.C.) led the Pioneers with six assists. Missouri Western
had three players in double figures in scoring with Steph Jones
leading the way with a game-high 21 points.
Next up, the Pioneers face University of the Incarnate Word
on Saturday, Nov. 23 with a start time of 2:00 p.m. during
the final day of the Abilene Christian Classic.
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