SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Cydney Wright netted 16 points and
Hannah Cleveland and
Olivia Falvey posted 12 apiece, but Centre used a 14-2 run in the fourth quarter to break open a close game in a 65-52 victory over the Tigers in women's basketball action here Wednesday night at Juhan Gymnasium.
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Tigers (10-10, 3-4 SAA) and evened the series at 1-1 this season after Sewanee won, 58-52, in Danville on week ago.
Despite being outrebounded badly and Wright and Falvey both fouling out in the final period, the Colonels (14-6, 5-2 SAA) led just 45-44 with eight minutes remaining after an old-fashioned 3-point play by Falvey. The Tigers posted just two points over the next five minutes and Centre took advantage, taking control of the contest.
Lilly Reid made two free throws before a basket by Lindsay Jessie and then a basket plus the foul for Reid, pushing the Colonels lead to eight. Wright's basket at 4:54 were the only points during the 14-2 run for the visitors.
Anna Thomas made a layup and Ryleigh Campbell's 3-pointer was the dagger, extending the advantage to 11 with just under four minutes remaining. Bailey Rucker added two free throws to end the spurt but the damage was done.
Centre won the battle of the boards, 39-21, including 13 on the offensive glass, six of those from Katelyn Stiltner, who finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and five assists. The Colonels posted 13 second-chance points as well.
Rucker led three Centre players in double figures with 12 points while Reid collected 11 and Jessie added 10.
Despite shooting only 37 percent from the field in the game, including 3-of-19 from 3-point range, and the rebounding numbers, Sewanee battled and trailed by one with eight minutes left before the deciding run by the Colonels. The Tigers made 13-of-14 at the foul line and had 14 assists in 18 made baskets.
The Colonels netted the first four points of the game with baskets from Stiltner and Arin Nipp before field goals from Cleveland and Wright knotted the score. Cleveland made a 3-pointer and a layup from Wright and a steal and layup by
Faith Humphrey gave the Tigers an 11-8 edge.
Brianna Keating-Rendon's triple extended the lead to 14-10 with three minutes left in the quarter, but Sewanee did not score and Centre collected the final seven points of the period. Field goals from Campbell and Reid tied the game at 14 and a basket by Rucker and 1-of-2 free throws from Stiltner put the Colonels in front, 17-14, after 10 minutes.
The Tigers struggled offensively in the second quarter, making just 2-of-12 attempts, several of those in the paint. Cleveland tied the game on the first offensive possession with a 3-pointer and Rucker scored on the other end for the Colonels, but neither team registered any points for the next four minutes.
Wright's layup evened the game at 19 before field goals by Rucker and Reid. Falvey connected on 1-of-2 foul shots at the 2:39 mark before KaNiah Edelen's jumper and a layup by Jessie pushed the Centre advantage to 27-20. Wright made two free throws in the final minute of the half but Jessie answered with a short jumper for a 29-22 at the break.
Sewanee committed 10 turnovers, seven in the first quarter, which the Colonels turned into nine points. Wright and Cleveland collected eight points apiece but the Tigers shot just 8-of-22 from the field in the first 20 minutes.
Zoe Sedo's basket plus the foul started the third quarter for Sewanee but Stiltner answered with two field goals and Rucker added one, extending the Centre advantage to 35-25. Falvey collected a layup and Cleveland added two free throws.
Wright's two free throws with two minutes left in the period cut the deficit to four and two more foul shots by Falvey made it a two-point game before Edelen's layup just before the buzzer ended the quarter with the Colonels in front, 41-37, setting up the final period.
Sewanee travels to Millsaps College this Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest and returns home February 7 and 9 for the team's final regular season home games.
