ROLLA, Mo. – The Missouri S&T women's basketball team was back at home Thursday evening looking to win their third-straight game, hosting Southwest Baptist in the second game of the season between the two schools. Despite outscoring the opposition in the second and third quarters and closing to within three in the late going, the Miners (6-9, 3-6) were unable to overcome a slow start to the evening against the Bearcats (10-7, 5-4), falling by a final of 79-68.
SBU scored the first points of the night but were quickly answered by a jumper in the paint from
Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones). The Bearcats then pulled out to an eight-point edge before an
Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) triple broke the run up and made it 10-5. Despite several good looks, the Miners could not find the bottom of the basket for the final five minutes of the quarter as SBU pulled out to a 20-5 lead after 10 minutes.
Katelynne Roberts (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) started the second period off strong for S&T with a layup in the paint in traffic as the Green & Gold scored six of the first eight points to resume action to make it 22-11. After trading baskets, S&T cut the lead to six on a jumper from Rodriguez and an
Addyson Kent (North Vernon, IN/Jennings County) three to close the gap to 24-18. The Bearcats managed to push the lead back to double-figures and as the period progressed, the margin stayed between eight and 11 points as 20 minutes came and went with the visitors leading 37-26.
S&T opened the third quarter strong, scoring the first four points courtesy of
Kristen Keys (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy) and
Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) to close the gap to seven at 37-30. Southwest Baptist hit a three on their next trip down the court and once again reestablished a double-figure lead that grew to as much as 15 with 5:30 remaining at 50-35. S&T continued to battle, and again closed the gap to single digits as Rodriguez scored the final five points of the frame to make it 56-49 heading to the fourth.
A Southwest Baptist three opened the final quarter but S&T was quick to respond, getting a basket from
Chorus Davis (Kansas City, MO/Lincoln College Prep) and a conventional three-point play from Keys to get within striking distance at 59-54. Again, the teams traded baskets and the Bearcats were able to lead once more by seven, but a pair of buckets from Keys and Rodriguez made it a three-point affair at 63-60 with 5:54 to go. Unfortunately for S&T, what followed was a 9-0 run from the visitors to make it a 12-point game with a minute remaining. A last-rally wasn't in the cards for the home team and despite getting some free throws from
Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) and a late bucket from Rodriguez, it wasn't enough as SBU took the game 79-68.
Rodriguez was the lone double-figure scorer for S&T in the game, finishing with 19 points on 9-16 shooting with five rebounds. Durk, Kerr and Keys each finished with nine points and combined to go 11-24 from the floor in the game. Kerr also pulled down five rebounds and added three assists and surpassed another milestone, recording her 400th career made field goal. All 10 players who checked into the game for the Miners scored at least two points in the game.
Up next for the Miners, they continue their homestand with their second contest of the season against Rockhurst Saturday at 1 P.M. at Gibson Arena.
