Box Score

 

Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri's Jared Verner

 

Jan. 10, 2009

KIRKSVILLE – Freshman Breanna Daniels came off the bench to lead five Truman players in double-figures, as the Bulldog women’s basketball team picked up its first MIAA win of the season with a 72-68 overtime win at home against Northwest Missouri Saturday night.

 

The Bulldogs (4-11, 1-7 MIAA) drained six three-pointers against the MIAA’s leader in three-point defense and held the Bearcats (6-8, 2-5 MIAA) to just a one-for-15 clip from beyond the arc.

 

Truman executed efficiently in the half court throughout the first 20 minutes, recording 13 assists on 16 made field goals. Junior Julie Guinn (Holden, Mo.) hit three triples, and junior Laura Joya (Wheeling, Ill.) pulled down seven of Truman’s 17 first half rebounds. The Bulldogs led by as many as 12 and took a 42-34 lead into the break.

 

The eight point lead was erased quickly however, as the Bearcats held Truman to just seven points in the first 12 minutes of the second half to lead 53-49 with eight minutes to play. But although Truman started out slowly, Northwest couldn’t capitalize and build a buffer, as a Georgia Mueller (Springfield, Ill.) jumper with 6:29 to go put Truman back on top 55-54.

 

The squads shared three lead changes and a pair of ties before Bulldog junior Malorie Kiecker (Watertown, Wis.) dropped a pair from the charity stripe to give the Bulldogs a two-point lead with 1:37 remaining.

 

Following a pair of empty possessions and a Joya missed lay-up, Northwest’s Abby Henry slipped through the Bulldog defense and hit a lay-up of her own with just four seconds remaining. A Truman timeout set up a Joya jumper that rattled out at the horn, forcing the third overtime game of the season for the Bulldogs.

 

After Truman led by a point two minutes into the extra frame, Tara Roach hit her third bucket of the overtime to give the Bearcats a 68-67 lead. From there, however, Kiecker responded with a jumper and a lay-up putting Truman back up by three with just 21 seconds to play.

 

Northwest’s Micaela Uriell had a look at a tying three-pointer from the corner, but it fell short, and Guinn sank one of two clinching free throws to help Truman snap a five-game losing streak and improve to 2-1 in overtime games this season.

 

Daniels’ 13 led all Bulldogs, while Joya tacked on her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Eli Medina (Kansas City, Mo.) set new career-highs in both points (11) and rebounds (six) off the bench, with Mueller and Guinn each finishing with ten points apiece.

 

The two squads were identical on the glass with both finishing with 39 rebounds, but Truman hit five additional three-pointers and free throws to help make up the three field-goal difference between the teams.

 

Northwest had four players in double-figures, as both Roach and Rickeya McElroy led the way with 17 points each. After scoring 15 in the first-half, McElroy was held to just two points in the final 25 minutes.

 

Truman will host Missouri Western (0-13, 0-7 MIAA) on Wednesday (Jan. 14) night in Pershing Arena. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.