Nov. 24, 2009
(QUINCY, ILL.) - The Truman women’s basketball team bounced back from an early 13-2 deficit but fell on a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds to play in a 69-67 road loss to No. 19 Quincy (Ill.) University on Tuesday night. Senior guard Laura Joya scored a team-high 21 points to lead four Bulldogs in double-figures.
The 19th-ranked Lady Hawks (4-0) jumped out to a quick 11-point lead, which would be the game-high, before Truman (2-2) methodically climbed back into the game. The Bulldogs narrowed the gap to two twice in the first half and cut it to a 50-47 QU lead with 12:35 to play before an old-fashioned three-point play by freshman Jennifer Conway knotted the score at 50 apiece. The Bulldogs used a 19-6 run to jump ahead 52-51 before the squads traded buckets all the way to a 60-59 Truman edge following a pair of Joya free throws with 6:55 remaining in the game.
Joya followed her free throws up by burying a three-pointer before freshman Becka McHenry pushed the led to five with a free throw at 64-59 with 3:12 to play in the game. After a quick 8-0 blitz by the Lady Hawks, the Bulldogs found themselves down three with 38 seconds remaining before sophomore Breanna Daniels poured in a three-pointer from the wing to tie the game with 15 seconds to play, setting up a final play for the host QU squad.
After substantial pressure around the perimeter, Janette Burgin drove into traffic and drew a foul on Bulldog senior forward Sarah Seberger with just 2.5 seconds remaining to head to the free throw line. Burgin sank both, and the Bulldogs were unable to get a final shot off in a 69-67 Lady Hawk final decision.
Joya’s 21 paced the Bulldog offense, while Daniels added 12 in front of career-highs for both Seberger (11) and McHenry (10). Seberger pulled down a team-best eight rebounds, as the Bulldogs were out-rebounded by QU by just one at 39-38.
The Lady Hawks shot 40.3% (25-for-62) from the field, just one percent (39.3%; 22-for-56) better than Truman, though the Bulldogs made up part of the difference by hitting two extra three-pointers (seven to five) and converting 16-of-19 chances from the charity stripe, including 10-of-11 from the second half.
QU was led by Lindsey Stellflue’s 22 points along with a 15-point, nine-rebound effort from Courtney Shuman.
Truman will return to action following the Thanksgiving holiday with a 5:30 p.m. contest on Saturday in Pershing Arena against Lincoln (Mo.) University.