Portsmouth, Ohio- SSU Women's Basketball split the regular season series with Lindsey Wilson, falling at home by a final score 70-55.
Shawnee State finished shooting 35.7% on 20-56 while having trouble from three going 4-20. Lindsey Wilson would go 23-55 for 46.8% and 46% on 6-21 from deep.
Sienna King (SO/Shelby, Ohio) led the Bears with 14 points. Marnae Holland (FR/Strongsville, Ohio) had another showout game, contributing 10 points in SSU's effort.
The Bears returned to the Cave Saturday afternoon to take on Lindsey Wilson College. The Blue Raiders had lost two straight going into Saturday's game, with an overall record of 16-8. SSU came in at 20-5 and 7-2 in conference play.
The first quarter proved to be a struggle for offensive production. Both teams showcased solid defensive play but neither squad would break 20 in the quarter. After the opening three minutes, Shawnee would take their first lead of the game making it 6-5 on a Sienna King layup. Lindsey Wilson then went out on an 8-0 run to lead 13-6 with 4:30 to go in the quarter. In the final minute, Marnae Holland euro-stepped her way into a bucket to make it 18-13 going into the second quarter.
The second quarter saw better defensive adjustment yet the Bears continued to struggle for an offensive spark. Natalie Zuchowski (FR/Ravenna, Ohio) would bring SSU within three at the 7:30 to make it 22-19. Neither team would score until the 5:55 mark when Lindsey Wilson would score to give them 24. The Bears would only score once more and trail 31-21 going into halftime.
Lindsey Wilson further extended their lead in the third quarter, in the first five minutes the Blue Raiders surged out to a 19 point, 43-26 lead. The Bears would not spark offensively until the last two and a half minutes, as they would go on a 6-2 run and trailed 47-34 in the final minute. Lindsey Wilson scored in their last possession of the quarter and led 49-36.
Shawnee State opened the fourth quarter continuing to narrow the gap, they would bring the lead to within double digits for the first time in the half at the 9:00 mark. It was 49-40 Lindsey Wilson after the first minute and the Blue Raiders would remain in control with an 8-1 run to go up 58-41. The Bears didn't have the fuel to comeback offensively, ultimately falling 70-55.
The loss sets the Bears back to 20-6 overall and 7-3 in the Mid-South. Lindsey Wilson College improves to 17-8 and 7-4 in the conference.
Shawnee State Women's Basketball will go on the road for their next contest, traveling to Pikeville, Ky. this Thursday to take on the Bears. Tip-off is set for 6PM from the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center.
