BAYAMON, P.R. – Missouri S&T's women's basketball never trailed throughout its first game in Puerto Rico to get back into the win column Saturday afternoon, as it used a solid defensive effort to down Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 60-53.
The Miners held Mayaguez to a 32.3 percent mark from the field and to just four three-point baskets in 20 attempts to pick up the victory. The defensive effort was especially evident in the first half, as S&T (2-9) allowed the Bulldogs to shoot 23.3 percent overall and held them to a one-of-13 mark from beyond the arc.
S&T went to
Katelynne Roberts (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville) early to set the tone, as she scored 12 of her game-high of her game-high 23 points in the opening period. Roberts scored the first six points for S&T, including a lay-in off an assist from
Franchesca Metz (Downers Grove, IL/Nazareth Academy) to put the Miners in the lead for good as it turned out at 6-4 midway through the opening period.
That basket sparked a 12-2 spurt by the Miners, capped by a lay-in by
Bonnie Lew Ludlow (Indianapolis, IN/Covenant Christian) that gave S&T a 10-point lead late in the period and that margin would eventually grow to as much as 16 before the first half ended, as the Miners outscored the Bulldogs 14-7 at the outset of the second quarter to take their largest lead of the game.
S&T led 33-22 at the half, but Mayaguez started cutting into their deficit early in the second half as they got it down to five midway through the third period. However, the Miners closed the period on a 7-0 run to restore a 12-point advantage, getting a three-pointer from
Eryn Puett (Columbia, MO/Rock Bridge) in the final seconds of the quarter to go up 42-30 at the end of three.
The Miners maintained a lead of anywhere from eight to 12 points during the front end of the fourth quarter, but Mayaguez trimmed the lead down to five twice, the last time on an Andrea Mendez basket with 48 seconds remaining. Metz hit two free throws with 32 seconds left to push the lead back to seven, then made a steal moments later to end any comeback hopes for the Bulldogs.
Besides Roberts' 23 points, the Miners got 11 points from Puett and 10 from Ludlow in a game where they shot 41 percent from the field. S&T also had a 39-22 advantage on the boards, led by a quartet of players with six rebounds apiece.
Puerto Rico-Mayaguez was led by Gabriela Ortega with 17 points.
The Miners will play their second game on the trip Sunday when they face Puerto Rico-Bayamon at 11 a.m. (Central time).
