ROLLA, Mo. – Closing out a busy stretch at home, the Missouri S&T women's basketball team was back in action for the second Monday in a row and again playing their third game in five days as they hosted Indianapolis at Gibson Arena in a COVID-19 rescheduled contest from January 6. The Miners (7-10, 4-7) led by five at the half and despite allowing a big third quarter, managed a late rally looking to win their second straight but the Greyhounds (6-10, 3-5) managed to outlast S&T in the closing moments to take the 76-74 win.
The teams traded the first five points of the game before UIndy was able to take the lead and gain some separation to gain a 10-point advantage with 2:25 to play.
Katelynne Roberts (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) laid one in to close to within eight at 19-11 before the visitors hit two free throws to again make it a double-digit game once more.
Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) closed the quarter with an S&T basket to make it 21-13 after 10 minutes.
The Miners came out on fire to start the second period, going on a 14-0 run over the first four minutes to charge back in front and lead 27-21, getting baskets from Davis,
Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) and
Kristen Keys (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy) along the way. UIndy broke things up with a field goal at 5:47 and got within three following a conventional three-point play at 29-26 but S&T was able to build their lead back to seven before UIndy hit a jumper with just over two minutes to play to make it 35-30. Neither side scored over the final 2:17 as that score held going into the intermission.
The Greyhounds and Miners traded baskets to open the third quarter as S&T maintained their lead until the visitors hit a three with 5:40 on the clock to go back ahead. Two Rodriguez free throws and a jumper from Kerr allowed S&T to keep pace with Indianapolis until a quick 7-0 run made it 51-44. The Green & Gold were able to get back within six following a three-point play from Davis, but another UIndy three made it 58-49 through three quarters.
Indianapolis kept their momentum going into the final period, pushing their lead up to 11 at 65-54 with 7:57 to go. S&T then answered with a Durk three that sparked a 9-0 run to close to within two at 65-63. The teams exchanged the next six made field goals as it remained a two-point affair before the Greyhounds scored on back-to-back possessions to once again lead by seven at 76-69. Another Durk three ball and jumper from keys closed the gap to 76-74 with five seconds to go, but the Greyhounds managed to play keep away and escape with the win.
Keys led all scorers with a season-high 21 points on 9-16 shooting, including 3-4 from deep. Davis and Durk each finished with 13 points and went 4-4 and 5-7 from the field, respectively.
Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) pulled down seven boards to lead the Miners and finished with eight points.
Up next, the Miners have just one game the remainder of the week, heading to Springfield Saturday for a contest with #1 Drury at 1 P.M.
