Lady Mustangs lose two squeakers in holiday tournament at Western

Both games ended in similar fashion as three-pointers at the buzzer were not enough to overcome four-point deficits leaving SM 1-9 on the season.

Murphy 47 SM 46

Murphy edged the Lady Mustangs 47-46 last Thursday. Lindsay Roberts paced the Lady Bulldogs with 16 points, and Shea Tanney had 11.

Christy Pruett scored 15 points for the Lady Mustangs, and Tori Kelly added 10.

"We had our opportunities," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "We continue to improve and need to keep working hard as we get ready to resume conference play."

Murphy held a 40-34 advantage after a Roberts layup with 3:48 left in the game.

SM fought back and closed within 42-40 on a follow shot by Danielle Bowers at the 1:42 mark. She made one of two free throws with 1:13 on the clock for a 42-41 score.

The Lady Mustangs again pulled within one at 44-43 when Nicholson scored with 19.3 seconds left.

Nikol Watson hit three of four foul shots over the next 14 seconds for a 47-43 lead to offset Kelly's three-pointer at the buzzer. Murphy scored the game's first five points, but SM rallied for an 8-8 tie with 2:44 left in the first period. That was the score at the quarter break.

Baskets by Courtney Bryson and Pruett opened the second stanza putting the Lady Mustangs up 12-8.

Roberts' follow shot with 20 seconds to go tied it 18-18 before Pruett made one of two foul shots with 5.8 seconds left giving SM a 19-18 edge at intermission.

The last lead for the Lady Mustangs was 21-20 on Pruett's inside basket with 6:16 remaining in the third stanza.

Natasha Allen put Murphy ahead to stay, 22-21, at the 5:57 mark. That was the start of an 8-0 run, including four by Roberts, resulting in a 28-21 lead after two Megan Zimmerman free throws with 3:06 on the clock.

The Lady Bulldogs led 32-26 entering the final period.

The Lady Mustangs shot 41.7 percent from the floor. They could have won with better free throw shooting as they made 14 of 25. SM was also hurt by 22 turnovers.

Bowers led her team in rebounds with nine.

Pruett hit four field goals and seven free throws. Kelly made two field goals, including a trey, and five foul shots.

Nicholson finished with seven points, Bowers and Jennifer Hyatt both netted five, and Katie Crisp and Courtney Bryson had two apiece.

Andrews 37 SM 36

Andrews emerged with a 37-36 win in overtime Friday behind 14 points from Hillary Webster.

Stasha Nicholson paced the Lady Mustangs with 11 points.

"It was a disappointing loss," Coach Cindi Simmons said. "We had opportunities and didn't cash in."

A free throw by Danielle Bowers with 2:43 left gave SM its only overtime lead at 33-32.

Katie Blaylock's 17-footer at the 2:15 mark put the Lady Wildcats ahead to stay 34-33.

Christy Pruett came up with three of her six steals late in the game, but SM was unable to convert any of them into points.

Andrews had trailed most of the game until Brittany Mintz hit from outside for a 24-23 edge with 6:19 left in regulation.

Pruett made one of two free throws with 1:03 on the clock for a 30-29 Lady Mustang lead.

Webster banked in a three-pointer just 10 seconds later putting the Lady Wildcats in front 32-30.

Two free throws by Tori Kelly tied it 32-32 with 45 seconds left, and both teams missed chances to win in regulation.

Baskets by Pruett and Nicholson opened the scoring, but Andrews ran off eight straight points to lead 8-4 on a 16-footer by Leighann Cutshaw with 3:49 on the clock.

The Lady Mustangs fought back to lead 9-8 at the quarter break after a basket by Nicholson with 27 seconds to go.

They scored the first eight points of the second period, including four by Nicholson, to lead 17-8 after a steal and layup by Pruett with 4:32 on the clock.

Over the next 13 minutes, SM managed to score just four points.

Andrews wasn't scoring much either and still trailed 17-13 at intermission.

The Lady Wildcats drew even at 19-19 when Sheena Cutshaw made one of two foul shots with 3:02 remaining in the third stanza. Pruett's follow shot put the Lady Mustangs up 21-19 at the 2:30 mark, and that was the score entering the fourth quarter.

Nicholson made five field goals, including a three-pointer.

Bowers and Pruett both finished with seven points, Kelly scored four, Katie Crisp, Jennifer Hyatt and Ashley Harn all had two, and Courtney Bryson hit a free throw.

Pruett pulled down 15 rebounds, and Bowers had nine.

The Lady Mustangs shot just 25.5 percent from the floor.

Back to Sports: 01/03/02.