Final Score: Mission University 71, Asbury University 60
Location: College of the Ozarks (Keeter Gymnasium) Point Lookout, Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The number 1 seed played a more consistent game as they led most of the contest in earning their way to the Championship game of the NCCAA National Tournament. Lady Patriots trailed 4-0 to begin the contest, and then MU went on a 6-0 run. After the Lady eagles tied the game at 6-6, the Lady Patriots went on a 5-0 run to take the lead. As it turned out, Mission would hold the lead the rest of the game. When the first quarter ended, MU held a 15-12 lead. Contributions were made by many Lady Patriots;
Laney Humble off the bench hitting three treys,
Brooklyn Luna connecting on three as well, which helped the Lady Pats get off to a better start to the game than yesterday. The Lady Patriots picked up their full-court defensive intensity in the second quarter and it paid off. The Lady Eagles committed nine turnovers in the second period alone, which the Lady Patriots converted into 9 points on their way to winning the second quarter 23-11, and possess a fifteen point halftime advantage, 38-23.
The third quarter began with the Lady Eagles returning that full-court pressure and go on a 7-3 run in the first two minutes of the period. Momentum was shifting and then the unthinkable happened. Luna was guarding a Lady Eagle when her knee gave out. How would the Lady Patriots responded without one of their leaders? As Mission regrouped, Asbury continued to get back in the game closing the gap to 47-42 with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter. A big basket down low by
Heaven Shockley pushed the lead back to seven, 49-42, but then a Lady Eagle canned a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 49-45 at 5:03.
Cassidy Hambelton drove into the lane next, spun around twice, found an opening and made a close jumper. Next possession,
Karlie Sampson made a layup off of a Hambelton feed to make it 53-45 at 3:32 in the third. The Lady eagles scored four points over the next minute to draw within 53-49. The advantage was just three, 54-51 with 1:26 to go after Asbury made a wide open layup.
Josie Sullivan then made a layup, followed by a Hambelton trey to boost the lead to eight, 59-51 as the period ended. The teams matched buckets for the first three minutes of the final quarter. Sullivan hit a baseline jumper to put the lead back in double figures, only to have Asbury respond to pull within 66-57 with 6 minutes remaining. Over the next minute each squad scored, but the Lady Patriots maintained a nice margin heading into the last four minutes. When Hambelton canned another three-pointer at 3:24 to give MU a 71-59 lead, no one in the crowd envisioned that would be the last points the Lady Patriots would score. Fortunately, the Lady Eagles went cold from the field and managed just a single free throw in the last three minutes as the game ended with a Lady Patriot 71-60 victory.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Heaven Shockley, led the team with a double-double of 15 Points and 14 Rebounds.
- Josie Sullivan recorded a double-double of her own, 16 Points and 12 Rebounds.
- Cassidy Hambelton and Sullivan each had 6 Steals to pace the squad.
- Sullivan also led the team with 6 Assists.
- Other players in double figures: Hambelton 13, and Brooklyn Luna 11 Points.
UP NEXT
The Lady Patriots play in the Championship game of the NCCAA National Tournament on the campus of the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, Saturday afternoon, March 22, at 2:00 pm against the host Lady Bobcats of College of the Ozarks.
