SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Janie Boyd netted a career-best 22 points but Sewanee fell behind early and was unable to climb out of the hole, dropping a 71-54 decision to Southwestern University in women's basketball action here Sunday at Juhan Gymnasium.
The Pirates (12-8, 3-6) scored the first 14 points of the game thanks to seven missed shots and five turnovers in the first five minutes by the Tigers (8-12, 1-8 SAA). Sewanee battled uphill for the remainder of the contest, pulling within eight in the second quarter and nine on two occasions in the third period.
Boyd was the only bright spot offensively for the Tigers, connecting on 8-of-14 shots overall, 3-for-5 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 at the foul line. The rest of the team shot just 28 percent (11-for-39) from the field.
Hannah Cleveland was the only other player in double figures with 12 points.
Trinity Benitez led the Pirates with 24 points and 13 rebounds, with 21 of those points in the second half. Nella Castillo netted 13 points and four other Southwestern players posted between six and nine points.
The Tigers started slowly for the second straight game, falling behind 14-0 in the first five minutes. Cleveland's putback finally got the home team on the board.
Castillo was fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three attempts and Layla Tovar hit a triple for the Pirates. Two baskets by Emma Flores and one apiece for Kylee Symons and Benitez gave Southwestern the early advantage.
Adrianna McCoy answered Cleveland's field goal with a 3-pointer before six straight points by the Tigers that included baskets by Cleveland and Boyd and two free throws from Cleveland.
Eliza Everett connected on 1-of-2 free throws, cutting the deficit to eight, but Castillo posted an old-fashioned 3-point play and Lauren Stevens made a 15-footer for a 23-10 Southwestern lead after one quarter.
Adison Howard's triple started the second period for Sewanee, but the Pirates then registered a 10-0 run. Stevens made two foul shots and a layup before baskets from Castillo, Symons and McCoy.
Brianna Keating-Rendon's 3-pointer ended the spurt, but Flores answered with a three for Southwestern, though the visitors did not score for more than four minutes.
The Tigers netted seven consecutive points and ended the half with an 11-2 run. Boyd connected on a triple and a short jumper from Boyd and two free throws by
Micha Lovelace. Boyd added two foul shots and
Olivia Falvey made a layup for a 38-27 deficit at intermission.
Cleveland posted a 3-pointer two minutes into the third quarter, making it a nine-point lead for Southwestern, but the Pirates answered with eight straight points – four free throws by Benitez and field goals from Castillo and Symons. The Tigers came back with eight consecutive points as well after Cleveland and Lovelace each netted layups and Boyd collected two baskets.
Benitez ended the period with an old-fashioned 3-point play for a 12-point lead headed to the final 10 minutes.
Sewanee trailed, 61-48, with just over four minutes remaining after a Boyd jumper, but the Pirates registered a 10-0 run to put the game away. Castillo made a 3-pointer and Benitez scored underneath twice before her own triple.
The Tigers play their final two home games of the season next weekend, hosting Oglethorpe University and Berry College.
