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TWU
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Life > Athletics > Basketball > 2002-03
News > February 1
ENGLEMAN'S
GAME-ENDING SHOT BEATS ABLIENE CHRISTIAN
DENTON,
TX—Down 69-67 with four seconds left in
the game, sophomore guard Lauri Engleman (Jewett, TX/Leon
H.S.) nailed a three-pointer from the baseline to give
Texas Woman's University (7-11, 3-3 LSC) a 70-69 victory
over Abilene Christian (10-10, 1-4 LSC). The Pioneers
shot 53.1% from the field in the second half to erase a 17-point
deficit. TWU had three players in double-figures in scoring
with Julie Prescher (Valley View, TX/Valley View H.S.) leading
the way with a season-high 15 points.
“Today was just another great team win. We have been
stressing that point to our players in practice for the past
two weeks and it is really paying off. Jessica Springer put
in another tremendous effort for us today, controlling the
boards and connecting on some good looks inside,” head
coach Devin Gabbard said. “Julie Prescher hit some huge
three-pointers down the stretch and Daphne Lyons played a great
game down low. Our defense really stepped up in the second
half, limiting their shots and cleaning up rebounds, which
allowed us to come from behind and win.”
The Wildcats started the game on fire, hitting four of their
first seven shots to build a 4-12 lead after three minutes
of play. Jessica Springer (Kirbyville, Tx/Blinn College) connected
on a three-pointer and Tiesha Wady (Cooper, Tx/Tyler J.C.) hit
a short field goal to bring TWU to within four, 10-14, but
Abilene Christian answered with an 8-0 run to push their lead
to 12 points. With 8:43 left until half, the Wildcats' Meredith
Doyle nailed a three and Lynsie Blau converted an easy layup
to give ACU its biggest lead of the half, 14-30. The Pioneers
could not draw any closer because of poor shooting and went
into the half, down 27-42. TWU shot 24% from the field and
hit only one of 12 attempts from beyond the arc in the first
frame.
Melanie
Carter hit one of her four field goals early in the second
period to give the Wildcats their biggest lead of the
game, 17 points, with 18:49 on the clock. ACU kept their lead
constant until midway in the second half when the Pioneers
went on a 14-3 run, thanks in large part to three field goals
from Tiesha Wady and two threes from Julie Prescher, to bring
the score to 51-55 with 8:07 on the clock. After Carter made
two free throws and hit a short field goal to extend the ACU
lead back to eight points, Prescher and Lauri Engleman hit
back-to-back threes to close the gap back to two, 57-59. With
5:23 left, Daphne Lyons (Flower Mound, TX/Louisiana-Monroe) received
an assist from Engleman and nailed a short jumper to bring
the Pioneers within one, 60-61. Three minutes later, Keshun
Irving (Karnack, TX/Tyler J.C.) stole the ball from ACU's
Jodi Hellums and went coast-to-coast for a layup to give the
game its first tie, 64-64. Lynsie Blau made a field goal and
her teammate Leah Wilson sank two free throws to give the Wildcats
a 65-68 advantage with 55 second remaining. Prescher added
a field goal at the 20-second mark to close the lead to within
one, but Jessica Springer was called for her fifth foul six
seconds later, which sent ACU's Blau to the line. She sank
one of her attempts to set the stage for Engleman's game winning
three-pointer.
The Pioneers finished the game shooting 38.5% from the field
and 25% from beyond the arc. TWU won the battle of the boards,
41-31, and turned 19 Wildcat turnovers to 23 points. Daphne
Lyons finished second on the team with 14 points while Tiesha
Wady chipped in with 11. Jessica Springer recorded seven points
and a season-high 14 boards, 11 of which were offensive rebounds.
Keshun Irving added six points, two steals and a game-high
six assists. Abilene Christian also had three players in double-figures
with Ashley King leading the way with 17 points.
Next
up, the Pioneers continue their conference home stand as
they
host West Texas A&M on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7
p.m. The Denton Record-Chronicle will be hosting “Free
Family Night” in Kitty Magee Arena, with any family receiving
free admission if they cut out the coupon that will be running
in the paper next week.
--www.twuathletics.com--
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