RIO GRANDE, Ohio – All the prognosticators will tell you that rivalry games bring out the best in two teams. Nobody would have predicted the finish to today's women's basketball contest between Shawnee State and Rio Grande. In a game that saw numerous twists and turns to the plot, it was the RedStorm (13-4, 2-3 MSC) that would prevail in a game where the Bears (8-8, 1-4) left everything they had on the court, only to have their hearts broken in an overtime thriller, 112-108.
The RedStorm had five players reach double figures in the high scoring affair while four SSU players reached double figures in the final box score. However, nobody took control of the game the way Alannah Sheets did as she played 39:29 straight before fouling out in the final seconds of regulation. Many more details to follow about that incident, which changed the game perhaps to an even greater magnitude than the Bears losing their highest scorer. Sheets finished with 45 points, finishing just three points shy of the school record of 48 points that all-time leading scorer Jenni Wessel set at Urbana on January 14, 1994.
Hot shooting from Sheets got the Bears started right away in the opening half as she hit two of her six threes for the game in the opening two minutes. Another three from Abby Feuchter put the Bears up 9-2 with just 2:10 gone by. Sheets would stay hot in the early going and led her team to a 12-point lead, 26-14, with 10:32 remaining in the opening half.
However, Rio Grande made their charge by asserting its presence in the paint to tie the game at 36-all with 2:37 to play in the opening half. It would lead by as many as five points in the opening half, 43-38. SSU went on a quick 6-0 run shortly after but two costly turnovers from SSU in the final 11 seconds of the opening half led to four points and a 47-44 deficit for the Bears at halftime.
The momentum stayed with Rio Grande to start the second half as the RedStorm held their largest lead of the game, 59-49, with 15:55 left in regulation. This time, the Bears were the team that needed to rally and they did so in the form of a 10-0 run to knot the game for the second team, 59-all with 13:15 left in the half.
The teams continued to go back and forth until the fifth tie score of the game, 65-all, saw the Bears start to pull away for the second time in the game. Five more points from Sheets helped the Bears go up seven, 76-69, with 9:01 on the clock. They would lead by as many as eight and by as little as two in the next few minutes but still found themselves with a seven-point lead, 89-82, with 2:48 left in regulation.
Once again, Rio would respond. The RedStorm went on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to a basket. On the ensuing play, Rio was whistled for a player technical after a defensive foul. Sheets would hit the first of the technical shots while Ali Zieverink made both of the foul shots to go up by five, 92-87, with 39 seconds to play.
On the next two trips down the court, both teams would make trips to the line as Rio knocked down a pair while Tabby McKinney hit the front end of the double bonus to make it a four-point game, 93-89, with 31 seconds to play.
Playing with four fouls and pressing the ball at half court, Sheets was whistled for her fifth foul on a steal attempt. However, she was the one that ended up taking the brunt of the contact and wound up on the court. This prompted her mom to come out onto the court check on her daughter's health.
However, with the parent out on the court SSU was whistled for a bench technical. This gave Rio four straight free throws, including the two for the foul on Sheets. Rio would drain all four in succession and the score was tied at 93-all with 31 seconds to play.
The Bears had possession after the tie score but Rio Grande came up with a steal to set up its offense for the potential game-winning points. The RedStorm went right to work and missed an initial shot attempt but came back with the offensive rebound and would get to the free throw line with six seconds to play. The RedStorm missed the front end of the two shots but converted the second to put the pressure on the Bears.
Shawnee State went for a rushed three from the top of the arc which came up short in the remaining seconds. However, Zieverink was in perfect position for the offensive rebound and put back. She couldn't make the winning layup but drew the contact.
After some discussion about whether or not the final buzzer had sounded, Zieverink was awarded two free throws. She made the first to tie the game but missed the second. With no time left on the clock, the two teams headed to overtime.
Shawnee State started the overtime without Sheets and Diane Abbady after they had fouled out during regulation. Rio would go right at the Bears, scoring the first six points of the overtime session. The Bears would never get closer than four points for the remainder of the overtime session as the RedStorm prevailed, 112-108.
In addition to Sheets, Zieverink and Abbady each scored 15 points for the Bears. Abbady also finished with 13 rebounds to post a double-double. Catrice Mitchell added a season-high 13 points off the bench.
Shawnee State shot over 49-percent from the field, while the RedStorm were 44-percent from the field. Rio Grande did most of their work down low and it was reflected in the final box score as the RedStorm held a 59-46 advantage in rebounding for the game. Thirty of Rio Grande's 59 rebounds came on the offensive end. The Bears also committed 30 turnovers compared to just 16 for Rio Grande.
Women's basketball will have a full MSC weekend upcoming as it hosts Campbellsville on next Thursday at 6 p.m. before St. Catharine comes to Portsmouth that Saturday in a 2 p.m. tip.
