The 9th-ranked Shawnee State Women's Team (23-4, 13-2 MSC) won in a thriller over the 5th ranked Patriots of the University of the Cumberlands (23-3, 12-2) 71-68 on Senior Day in Frank and Janis Waller Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Bears move on top of the conference standings and has a half a game lead over the Patriots with a week remaining in the regular season.
Shawnee State came out strong early. Junior Schera Sampson (Round Rock, TX) helped the Bears build a 12-7 lead, as she scored seven of the Bears first 10 points. The Patriots' Lauren Wombles scored five straight points to knot the game at 12 and Jade Howard gave Cumberlands their first lead of the game on a 3-pointer with 12:55 remaining in the half.
A lay-up by senior Abby Ballman (Cincinnati, OH) cut the Patriots lead to 17-16 with 11:48 left, but a 10-0 run by Cumberlands gave them their largest lead of the half. Shawnee State slowly cut the deficit and back-to-back lay-ups by Sampson cut the Patriots lead to 33-32 with just over a minute to play in the first half. Wombles extended the lead back to three with a jump shot.
Sophomore Alannah Sheets tied the game with an and-one play, but UC's Haley Ratliff closed the half with a 3-pointer, giving the University of the Cumberlands the 38-35 lead at the break.
Wombles had 17 points at the break, while Sampson poured in 14 for the Bears.
Sampson opened the second half with a lay-up. The Patriots quickly extended their lead to two possessions, 47-41 on a pair of free throws by Vernisha Moss. Freshman Erin Dailey (Chillicothe, OH) cut the lead to two with 12:12 remaining in the game; however the University of the Cumberlands quickly answered with a 7-0 run to take a 52-45.
The Patriots maintained a three possession game and even extended their lead to 66-55 with 5:28 left on free throws by Wombles. The Bears came roaring back. A pair of free throws by Sheets and Sampson and a lay-up by sophomore Tabby McKinney (Canton, OH) capped the Bears 6-0 run, cutting the lead to five with just under four minutes to play. After a pair of free throws by the Patriots' Haley Ratliff end their draught and expanded their lead to 68-61.
With 3:30 left in the game, Shawnee State's defense buckled down not allowing the Patriots to score again in the game. The Bears' offense ignited and junior Alex Pohl gave the Bears' their first lead of the second half with a lay-up with 1:10 left in the game. In her final game in Waller Gymnasium, Ballman sealed the win with two free throws with four seconds left in the game.
The win hands the University of the Cumberlands their second consecutive loss in conference action and gives the Bears a half of game lead over the Patriots. Shawnee State can clinch the regular season Mid-South title on Saturday February 25 with a win over rival Rio Grande. The University of the Cumberlands will need to capture wins over St. Catharine and 20th ranked Campbellsville to share the title.
Sampson led all scorers as she poured in a career-high 23 points, going 8-of-10 from the floor. She also pulled down eight rebounds and had three blocked shots. Sheets scored 22 points. Ballman finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals as the lone senior on the Bears' squad. Pohl pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points.
Wombles led the Patriots with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Moss and Jackie Alexander each scored 14.
Shawnee State shot 43 percent in the game, but struggled from long range only making four 3-pointers in the game for 22 percent. The Patriots shot 42 percent from the floor and made six shots from long range for 24 percent. From the line, the Bears shot 68 percent, making 23-of-34 attempts. The University of the Cumberlands was perfect from the line, making all 12 attempts.
Shawnee State closes the regular season on the road. The travel to West Virginia Tech on Thursday for a non-conference match-up beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Bears then travel to Rio Grande on Saturday to try to capture the MSC title.
