ROLLA, Mo. – For the final time in the 2021-22 season, the Missouri S&T women's basketball team took to the court at Gibson Arena in front of one of the biggest crowds of the year in their regular season final against Lewis. The Miners (11-15, 8-12) overcame a slow start and used a strong second half to rally past the Flyers (13-14, 11-8) to take the lead in the second half. However, 40 minutes came and went with the score tied but S&T was able to carry their second half momentum into the extra period to defeat Lewis by a final score of 72-67.
It was a slow start to the day for the Miners, but it could have been much worse than it was in the early going. Lewis scored first before
Laura Rodriguez (Gran Canaria, Spain/Baloncesto Torrelodones) drilled a deep three to give the Miners their first lead of the day. Points were hard to come by, but the Flyers had more early luck than S&T, as they scored the next nine points to lead 9-3 with 5:33 to play. The teams combined for just six more points in the opening period as Lewis led 13-5 after 10 minutes.
The sluggish start on offense continued for both teams as play resumed, with the Flyers scoring on a jumper at the 8:57 mark to lead by 10. Over three minutes of game action elapsed before Lewis hit two free throws to extend their lead to 12 at 17-5.
Kristen Keys (St. Louis, MO/Westminster Christian Academy) answered with a three-pointer on the next S&T possession but that was answered on the other end with a Flyer layup to keep the margin 19-8. A
Marta Durk (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon Township) three followed by a Rodriguez jumper cut the deficit to six as the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with the visitors taking a 23-17 lead to the break.
S&T scored five of the first six points once play resumed in the third quarter, getting a jumper from Durk and a three-pointer from
Jada Lindesmith (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lutheran) to make it a 24-22 game. Lewis was able to hold firm for a moment, but a Rodriguez jumper followed by another Durk triple put S&T back on top 29-27 with 6:51 left. The lead traded hands several times over the following minutes although the Green & Gold were able to go up four at 35-31 following buckets from Keys and
Katelynne Roberts (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville). The visitors battled back though and tied the score in the final minute of the period to make it 39-39 heading to the fourth.
The final frame of regulation saw makes on three of the first four shots of the half, with
Alex Kerr (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's Academy) bracketing a pair of layups around a Lewis jumper to give the Miners a 43-41 lead. A Lewis three flipped the score once more before Kerr rattled off four-straight points to regain the lead 47-44. The Miner lead swelled to seven at 53-46 following a
Michaela Davis (Keokuk, Iowa/Keokuk) basket at 3:34, but Lewis showed why they at one point this month had won eight-straight ballgames, as they battled back in the closing moments to get within one at 53-52. A 1-2 trip to the line from Davis with 10 seconds left made it 54-52 but a foul by S&T on defense with three seconds left allowed Lewis to sink two free throws and tie things back up. The Miners, looking to win on a last second shot, had a miscommunication on an inbounds pass following the free throws that resulted in a turnover with no time off the clock. The Flyers then had a chance for the game winner, but the shot attempt at the horn was off target as regulation concluded with the score even at 54.
Lewis drained a three to open the extra period before the next five points came by way of Davis and and
Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) corner three to make it 59-57 S&T. The Flyers hit a three of their own on the following possession but the Miners answered when Puett converted a traditional three-point play opportunity at the free throw line following a driving layup to make it a two-point game at 62-60. After a miss by the visitors on their next trip down the court, the Miners saw the script of the last two games flipped as they started a parade to the free throw line of the final 96 seconds of overtime, as Davis and Kerr were able to make it a 67-60 affair with 41 seconds to go. Lewis was able to close within four at 68-64 with 27 seconds left, but Davis connected on her next four foul shots to all but seal things up. A final three-pointer rattled home for Lewis but it wouldn't matter as S&T picked up the win on senior day 72-67.
Rodriguez was the high scorer for S&T in the game, finishing the day with 16 points and five rebounds while Davis posted 14 points, as she did most of her damage from the free throw line, going 10-13 on the game. Kerr closed out with 12 and was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine on the day, while Durk and Puett each recorded eight points in the game.
Up next for the Miners, the First Round of the 2022 GLVC Women's Basketball Championship on Monday. S&T will find out their opponent and where they will be playing once the official is announced Saturday evening.
