Anderson, S.C.— After being down double-digits for most of the game, the Anderson University women's basketball late third and fourth quarter surge fell just short with Tusculum holding onto the, 65-61, score to defeat the Trojans Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center. The Black and Gold slide to 6-4 overall and 5-3 in conference action, while the Pioneers improve to 7-0 overall and 7-0 in SAC play.
"Not the outcome we wanted today, especially at the house but it was a great situation for a young team to learn from," said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "We worked really hard and showed a lot of toughness to even the game back up."
"The next step is to execute the little things to close it out," said Barbaree. "Especially when the shots just aren't falling that day. We will keep working at it this week and get ready for the next one."
KEY STATS
- Tusculum shot 24-of-60 (40.0%) from the field, while Anderson shot 19-of-58 (32.8%).
- The Pioneers scored 30 points in the paint, while AU dropped in 20 points.
- Anderson's largest lead of the game, two, was at the 8:12 mark in the first quarter, while Tusculum's largest lead was 13 points at the 2:01 mark in the second frame.
KEY TROJANS
- Samantha Michel had a team-high 14 points, eight rebounds, two steals and five blocked shots.
- Taylor Hair scored 12 points, including going 2-of-5 from behind the arc. Hair grabbed two rebounds and was credited with a blocked shot.
- Britney Bailey contributed nine points, ripped down nine rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded a steal.
- Jalyn Spurlin chipped in eight points, while grabbing seven rebounds.
NOTES
- The Pioneers win tonight snapped AU's 37 regular season home win streak. The last regular season home loss dates back to Jan. 20, 2018 (Lenoir-Rhyne 56-51).
FIRST QUARTER
- Hair scored the opening basket the 8:12 mark.
- The Pioneers outscored AU 16-9 in the opening quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- B. Bailey's made jump shot with 8:42 remaining in the second stanza cut the lead to, 19-13.
- The lead was once again cut to six on Michel's made layup at the 6:18 mark. The Trojans did not score again until another Michel layup to set the score at 32-21 with 1:35 remaining in the half.
- Tusculum's Marta Rodrigues scored a layup to end the half, 34-24, giving the Pioneers a 10-point lead.
THIRD QUARTER
- Down 10 at the 7:05 mark, AU went on a 5-0 run, pulling to within five on Sprulin's made foul shot.
- Tusculum answered back with a made 3-point basket, only to be matched by AU's Hair draining a three with 4:12 to go in the third, 41-36.
- A 10-3 run by the Trojans gave AU the lead for the first time since the opening basket, 46-44.
- Pioneer Mya Belton drained a three just 20 seconds later to regain the lead, 47-46.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Cutter's three-point basket with 8:30 to play gave AU the lead, 51-49.
- Tusculum's Belton tied the game with a made layup, 51-51, before both teams go on a three minute scoring drought.
- Spurlin's mad jumper broke the drought with TU's Jordan Rogers tying the contest once again at 53-53.
- After taking another lead on two made free throws by TU's Maddie Sutton, AU's Cutter slipped in another 3-point basket to tie the game for the final time at the 2:04 mark, 58-58.
- Tusculum outscored the Trojans 7-3 over the final 2 minutes to stay undefeated overall and in league play.
UP NEXT
-The Trojans will travel to SAC foe Wingate on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 pm.
