Oakland City, IN: The second-seeded Alice Lloyd College Lady Eagles opened NCCAA Mideast Region play on March 4th as they traveled to the host, third-seeded Oakland City University. In a semi-final action contest that went down to the final play, the host Lady Oaks eked out a 66-65 win.
In the opening period, the Lady Eagles opened with back-to-back threes to jump out 6-0. However, OCU came back, and then the clubs’ traded buckets until the horn. The hosts would lead 15-14 after ten minutes of play.
In period two, the Lady Eagles only sank 2-13 attempts, which allowed the hosts to take the period 18-13. The Lady Oaks would maintain a 33-27 cushion at intermission.
As the third period began, the Pippa Passes ladies would get 20 combined points from seven different players as they sliced into the deficit. A 20-15 advantage would help Alice Lloyd trail by just one (48-47) entering the stanza.
In the crucial last ten minutes, the Caney Creek club opened up on a 12-5 run and would take a 59-53 lead with 5:32 remaining following a jumper from junior guard Hannah Kash.
The hosts would come back to knot things at 61-61, but three points from senior guard Haley Hall would give the Kentucky ladies a 64-61 advantage with 1:42 remaining. Later when freshman forward Madison Thompson blocked a shot and grabbed the rebound, ALC had the ball with .58 showing.
Unfortunately, the Lady Eagles would turn the ball over on their next possession and Oakland City’s Mosenjia Harvey would score on a drive and draw the foul. Her three-point play with just .36 showing would tie the score once more (64-64).
On the next play, the Pippa Passes squad would turn the ball over once again, Fortunately, OKC would miss the attempt at .19, giving the ball back to ALC.
Kash would draw a foul at the .15 mark, and look to break the tie. She would sink the first toss but saw the second one rim out. Now, the Indiana club would have the ball, leading 65-64.
Oakland City would get the ball to Taylor Dillard who drew a foul with .08 left. She coolly sank both tosses to give her squad the lead, 66-65.
On the last possession, the Lady Eagles would have their pass knocked out of bounds with .03 remaining. Down to the final seconds, they would then fumble the ball and not get off a shot, ending the game in OCU’s favor.
For Alice Lloyd (18-10), Hall led the club with 21 points and 5 assists, while freshman forward Kenzie Maynard came off the bench to add 9 points and 6 boards.
Kash and sophomore guard Hannah Malcomson chipped in with 8 points apiece, and Thompson also nabbed 12 boards.
The Caney Club finished shooting 37.1% (23-62) from the field and 27.8% (5-18) from long range. They connected on just 51.9% (14-27) from the charity line while adding 45 rebounds, 14 assists, 9 steals, and 7 blocks.
OCU (16-12) was paced by Dillard with 16 points. Her squad finished shooting 27.1% (19-70) from the field and 30% (6-30) from behind the arc. They sank 73.3% (23-30) from the foul line and added 53 rebounds, 9 assists, and 6 steals.
The Lady Eagles will now have to wait to see if they get a bid to the NCCAA DI National Championship.