EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Playing away from home for the final time this season, the Missouri S&T women's basketball team looked to close the road trip out a perfect three-for-three when they took the court at Screaming Eagles Arena Saturday against Southern Indiana. The Miners (10-14, 7-11) led early and took USI to brink in the closing moments, but the Screaming Eagles (20-4, 15-2) managed to hang on for a 63-50 win.
USI won the tip but was S&T who scored first on a
Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) jumper to take the first lead of the day. The seven of the next nine points went the way of the home team on the scoreboard as the Screaming Eagles went on to lead 7-4 before a 7-0 Miner run from Rodriguez and
Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) put the Miners back on top 11-7 with 4:34 to play. The Green & Gold maintained that lead through the rest of the period as the teams exchanged baskets for the balance of play, with 10 minutes passing with a score of 20-18 in favor of S&T.
Southern Indiana quickly took the lead on a trey to open the second, but
Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) answered back right away with a three of her own. USI regained the lead over the following minutes briefly at 27-25 before Rodriguez hit two free throws to even the score. A 10-2 run from the Screaming Eagles gave them an eight-point lead with 2:29 left before the half. Another three-pointer from Durk made it 37-32 as neither side was able to score in the final two minutes as the half concluded with a score of 37-32.
USI connected on two free throws to open the second half to make it a seven-point affair before Rodriguez drilled another three to make it 39-35. Not much scoring took place over the next several minutes for four of the next six points did go the way of the Miners and allowed them to close within two at 41-39 with 4:31 to play. Southern Indiana closed out the period on a 7-2 run to lead by seven at 48-41 through three periods of play.
Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) scored the first four points of the final period for S&T sandwiched around a USI layup as it was a five-point game 90 seconds after play resumed at 50-45. A three-pointer from
Addyson Kent (North Vernon, IN/Jennings County) at 6:21 answered a USI layup and made it a four-point game at 52-48 before
Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) drove down the lane for a layup to cut it to a three-point game at 53-50 with 3:39 on the clock. Unfortunately, the Miners' plans for a comeback were foiled as they were shutout over the final 3:39 and Southern Indiana went on a parade to the free throw line over the final 2:10 of action to push their lead back to double-figures and ultimately come out on top by a final score of 63-50
Rodriguez led the Miners with 14 points while Kerr recorded a double-double with 10 points and tied a career and season-high with 17 boards before fouling out for the first time this season. Durk finished with eight points and four rebounds before fouling out as well while
Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) added six. For the afternoon, S&T was whistled for 25 personal fouls while USI was tagged for just 11 infractions, and converted 17 of 27 opportunities at the free throw line while S&T went to the free throw line just seven times over the course of the game.
The Miners close out the regular season with two games at home this weekend, starting with a matchup Thursday night at Gibson Arena against Illinois Springfield at 5:30 P.M.
