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TWU
Home > Student
Life > Athletics > Basketball > 2002-03
News > March 4
PIONEER BASKETBALL FALLS TO
NSU IN FIRST ROUND OF LSC TOURNAMENT
TAHLEQHAH,
OK—Texas
Woman's University (11-16) led at halftime 26-25, but made
only six field goals in the
second half and allowed Northeastern State (22-6)
to come back and win the game, 42-51. The Pioneers out-shot
the Lady Reds from the floor, 30.4% to 29.4%, but TWU only
hit five of 17 free throws to give the game away. Jessica
Springer (Kirbyville, TX/Blinn College) and Sonya
Hodge (Eustace, TX/ Paris J.C.) led the Pioneers in scoring
with nine points apiece.
“The team really played well in the first half and during
different stretches during the game, but Northeastern went
on some good runs at the end of both periods to win the game.
We struggled from the free throw line tonight and you can't
do that and expect to win games in the post-season,” head
coach Devin Gabbard said. “This is sign of things to come
for TWU basketball because we achieved something this year
that we have not done in seven years, and that was to make
the conference tournament. The kids need to be proud of this
season, especially of what we had to do to get here.”
Daphne
Lyons (Flower Mound, TX/Louisiana-Monroe) opened
the game with a short jumper to give TWU the lead. After Keshun
Irving (Karnack, TX/Tyler J.C.) added a free throw to
make the score 5-2 Pioneers, Northeastern State hit back-to-back
field goals to take their first lead of the game. Lacey
Pemberton (Hawkins, TX/Paris J.C.) hit a three pointer
which started a 9-0 run by the Pioneers, making the score 14-6
with 10:37 left until half. Hodge hit a running jumper
with three minutes left to give TWU its biggest lead of the
game, 26-15, but the Lady Reds ended the first period on a
10-0 and went into halftime only down one, 26-25. The Pioneers
hit 39.3% of their shots in the first frame and held NSU to
just 25%.
The
Lady Reds' Fala Suianunoa quickly gave Northeastern State
back the lead when she opened the second half with a three-pointer,
making the score 26-28. The game would be tied two more times
before Springer hit a tough layup down low, then Pemberton
added her second three-pointer of the night, pushing the
Pioneers out in front 34-31 with 13:56 left. Northeastern
State answered with an 8-0 run during the next two minutes
to give them a five-point, 35-39 lead. The Lady Reds could
not extend their lead any further as both teams answered each
other shot for shot. Springer hit a free throw with 3:09 on
the clock to make the score 42-43, but that was as close as
the Pioneers would come. Northeastern State ended the game
on an 8-0 run to win the game, 42-51.
TWU ended the game, hitting 14 of 32 from the field (30.4%),
three of 22 from beyond the arc (13.6%) and five of 17 from
the free throw line (29.4%). Lacey Pemberton came in second
on the team in scoring with eight points while Meaghan Lewis
(Celeste, TX/Blinn College) and Lyons both chipped
in with five apiece. Northeastern State had two players in
double figures in scoring with Joanna Golunska leading the
way with a game-high 12 points.
The Pioneers
finish the 2002-03 season with an overall record of 11-16,
7-7 in conference play. The 11 victories this season
are the most since 1995-96 when TWU went 13-14 overall. That
year was also the last time the Pioneers made it to the conference
tournament. They earned conference sweeps over Texas A&M-Commerce,
Abilene Christian and Texas A&M-Kingsville this year, while
also upsetting No. 10 Angelo State in their own house to earn
the Pioneers a trip to the conference tournament.
--www.twuathletics.com--
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