SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Hannah Cleveland made one free throw with 0.5 seconds remaining, capping a 13-5 run to end the game in Sewanee's comeback victory over Berry College, 55-54, in women's basketball action here Friday night at Juhan Gymnasium.
The Tigers (11-11, 4-5 SAA) trailed 49-42 with just under five minutes left in the game and to that point, had netted just 13 points in the entire second half.
Cydney Wright connected on 1-of-2 foul shots and after a turnover near midcourt, Wright converted a layup.
Another miscue by the Vikings (16-6, 6-3) opened the door for Sewanee again and freshman
Kayla Northrup rolled in a 3-pointer from the wing, pulling the Tigers within a point with 3:50 to play.
Northrup then tipped a pass that turned into a steal and
Olivia Falvey was fouled on the other end, converting both foul shots. Berry committed yet another turnover and Wright's layup put Sewanee in front, 52-49, with 2:30 on the clock.
The Vikings' first points in more than three minutes came on a game-tying triple by Kenadie Lee, but Wright and Cleveland played a two-man game on the offensive end that turned into a layup for Cleveland. Emma Hempker's shot missed for Berry and Faither Humphrey grabbed the rebound but lost the ball dribbling out of trouble.
Elly Callihan was fouled and hit two free throws with 28.4 seconds to play for the Vikings, knotting the game at 54. Sewanee played for the last shot, with Cleveland missing a chance near the rim but grabbing the rebound. She was fouled with 0.5 seconds to play and made the first, then missed the second on purpose.
Berry got the rebound and called timeout but had just 0.2 seconds for a final tip-in, with the inbounds pass knocked away by Falvey to end the game. The teams combined for 49 turnovers and 41 fouls in a very physical contest for tip-off to the final whistle.
Cleveland finished with 15 points and eight rebounds while
Zoe Sedo tied her season-best with 12 points but missed the last 11 minutes after taking a hard foul on a loose ball near midcourt.
Lee paced the Vikings with 14 points and Sylvia Kahoro netted 10 as well but Berry shot just 37 percent from the field overall, 4-for-13 from 3-point range.
Cleveland posted a layup and a 3-pointer to start the game for the Tigers and despite 10 turnovers in the first six minutes, Sewanee led 7-4 after a steal and layup by Northrup. Falvey added a three and Sedo's floater off the glass just before the buzzer gave the Tigers a 14-12 edge after one period.
Back-to-back baskets by Karlee Armstrong put the Vikings ahead, 18-15, early in the second quarter but Cleveland's old-fashioned 3-point play knotted the score and Sedo collected two straight 3-pointers for a 24-20 Sewanee advantage. Sedo's putback extended the lead to six.
Lilly Phillips beat the shot clock for another triple before Jayda Wood and Elly Callihan layups and a field goal from Kahoro tied the contest at 29 at the half. Berry shot just 12-of-29 from the field, helping the Tigers overcome 16 first-half turnovers while Sewanee made 5-of-13 from behind the arc.
The Tigers collected just two points in the first eight minutes of the third quarter, a Sedo basket to start the period, but trailed by only four points before Falvey's layup with 2:02 left in the quarter made it a two-point game. Callihan and Lee each made two foul shots for the Vikings, stretching their lead to six, but Falvey nailed a three and Humphrey added two free throws at the end of the period, pulling Sewanee within, 41-38.
Cleveland's basket got the Tigers within two early in the final quarter, but Lee answered with a 3-pointer and a triple and then 1-of-2 free throws by Kahoro pushed the Berry lead to 49-42, setting up the final stretch.
Sewanee ends the regular season home schedule this Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest against Oglethorpe. Senior Day activities will take place before the game Sunday.
