LEBANON, Ill. – A cold fourth quarter doomed Missouri S&T's women's basketball team Saturday evening as it fell to Ohio Dominican 63-53 at the Midwest Regional Crossover at McKendree University.
The Miners, who shot just over 29 percent in their setback Friday to 20
th-ranked Ferris State, made just 30.4 percent of their attempts from the floor on Saturday and only of three-of-18 in the fourth quarter, as the Panthers (1-1) broke away from S&T after leading by two heading into the final period.
S&T (0-2) scored the first eight points of the contest to take the early lead and led by as much as nine at 11-2 following a three-pointer from
Addyson Kent (North Vernon, IN/Jennings County) at the 2:54 mark. The Miners led 13-9 at the close of the opening period, but the Panthers took their first lead after scoring the first six points of the second quarter.
Another three-pointer by Kent returned the lead back to S&T and it was able to extend the lead back to seven again after two free throws from
Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) just past the midway point of the period. However, Ohio Dominican rallied back and got a late three-pointer from Brynn Mullet to tie the game at 29 at the intermission.
After falling behind to being the second half, the Miners got back-to-back baskets from Puett – the latter a three-pointer – to regain the lead. The lead was extended to five after a steal and basket by
Franchesca Metz (Downers Grove, IL/Nazareth Academy), but the Panthers got a steal and then a basket by Gabby Stare as the third quarter ended to take a 44-42 lead into the final 10 minutes.
Ohio Dominican followed the Stare basket by scoring the first seven points in the fourth quarter to go up by nine and from there was able to keep S&T at bay. The Miners got within six with 2:17 remaining on a lay-in by
Katelynne Roberts (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville), but couldn't get any closer from there.
Metz led three Miners in double figures with 12 points, while Puett finished with 11 and Roberts with 10. The Miners had a 42-31 rebounding advantage, but committed 20 turnovers that the Panthers turned into 26 points.
Macy Chapman had 17 points off the bench to lead Ohio Dominican.
The Miners will open their home schedule Wednesday by hosting Principia at 5:30 p.m. at Gibson Arena.
