Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri S&T Lady Miners had a chance to win the game in the closing seconds but Raetchel Gray (Allen, Okla./Byng )'s pass intended for Jamy Douvier (Sedgwick, Kan./Sunrise Christian Academy) was intercepted on the baseline and S&T didn't get a shot off falling at Rockhurst 60-59 on Saturday. The Lady Miners (6-10, 2-7 GLVC) missed 10 free throws in the contest and turned the ball over 19 times.

Things didn't start well for S&T as they missed 10 of their first 11 shots from the floor and Rockhurst (11-6, 4-5 GLVC) torched the nets racing out to a 15-point lead with 1:43 left in the opening quarter. The Lady Miners settled down and began to chip away at the lead scoring the final six points of the stanza to cut the deficit to 20-11 by the quarter break.

The run continued into the second quarter scoring the first 11 points of the frame to take a 22-20 lead after a basket by Joe'l Bland (St. Charles, Mo./Homeschooled) on the break. The Hawks ended their scoring drought on a basket by Lauren Meyers to tie the game at 22 with 4:27 left in the second quarter. Rockhurst would go onto outscore S&T 6-4 the rest of the frame to take a 28-26 lead into the locker room.

After its slow start the Lady Miners made nine of their final 17 shots of the half to finish the frame shooting 36 percent from the floor. They were outrebounded 24-19 and turned it over 11 times resulting in 15 points for the Hawks. Gray led S&T with eight points while Bland added six and Kimberly Runge (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) had five.

Rockhurst shot only 30 percent (9-for-30) from the field but did hit 4-of-12 from long range. Marisa Lowe led the Hawks with nine points while Mary Dineen had seven points.

Rockhurst extended its lead to five points early in the third quarter on three-pointer from Lowe before the Lady Miners rattled off six straight to take their final lead of the contest on a three by Gray. The Hawks regained the lead on the next possession as Kaci German converted an old fashioned three-point play.

S&T had its opportunities but struggled to make free throws in the third quarter making only 6 of 10. Rockhurst took advantage of the opportunity and extended its lead to 47-41 with 0:32 left in the period. The Hawks had a chance for an eight point lead near the end of the quarter but Morgan Harwood missed both free throws and Bria Pierce (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) was fouled and hit two free throws to cut the lead to four heading into the final quarter.

Rockhurst scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to nine, but the Lady Miners hung in their trimming the deficit back to four after a basket by Pierce with 6:13 left in the game. Lowe hit a three-pointer on the next possession to extend the lead to 55-48.

S&T countered with a 7-2 run to get within 57-55 after a three by Gray with 3:14 left. On the ensuing possession Haileigh Cindrich, a 28.1 percent three-point shooter on the season, hit a three with the shot clock winding down to put the Hawks ahead 60-55.

Gray hit two free throws and Pierce hit a layup with 1:41 left to bring the Lady Miners within 60-59. S&T got a stop on the next possession but couldn't get a good shot off as Rockhurst held. The Hawks had a chance to ice the game but Lauren Meyers missed a long three with 0:11 left and Janie Arand (Washington, Mo./St. Francis Borgia) got the rebound. Gray drove the length of the floor and down the left side of the lane and appeared to have a layup but instead tried to find Jamy Douvier (Sedgwick, Kan./Sunrise Christian Academy) but Jillian Meyers intercepted the pass to end the game.

The Lady Miners shot 44 percent (8-for-18) in the second half to finish the game making 18-of-46 (39.1 percent) from the field. They shot 50 percent from the perimeter but were outrebounded 40-33. Gray led all scorers with 18 points while Pierce had 12 and Arand added 11.

Rockhurst shot only 35 percent (19-for-55) but made nine three-pointers and shot 77 percent at the foul line. Lowe led the Hawks with 15 points while Dineen added 11. Meyers and Cindrich had nine points apiece.

S&T returns home next Thursday to begin a four game homestand against Truman State at 5:30 p.m.