MEMPHIS-Visiting Alabama Huntsville used a 13-2 run late in the third quarter to take control and win a 52-47 decision over the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs Thursday night in CBU's final home game of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Lady Bucs (10-14, 8-12 GSC) used an 8-0 burst early in the second quarter to dig themselves out of a 19-13 deficit and take a 21-19 edge on an
Ashley Schaefer (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore HS) layup with 4:32 remaining in the first half. Schaefer accounted for all eight points in the burst, scoring six and assisting on the other basket.
• UAH (14-10, 11-9) answered with a 7-2 burst to take a 26-23 lead on a Chandler Elder three-point play with 1:56 to play in the half.
• The Lady Bucs scored the final four points of the first half and the first three of the third quarter to take a 30-26 lead on a
Samantha Reeves (Somerville, Tenn./Fayette Academy) triple 19 seconds into the second half.
• The Chargers took the lead for good with the 13-2 run, capped by a Josi Saunders layup that gave UAH a 41-34 lead with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter. The Lady Bucs never came closer than five points again.
KEY STATS:•
Rachel Lee (Jackson, Tenn./Jackson Christian School) scored 13 points to lead the Lady Bucs.
• Schaefer scored 12 with eight rebounds and four assists.
• Reeves added 10 with four rebounds.
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Courtney Banks (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) scored eight with five assists, three steals and three rebounds.
• The Lady Bucs shot just 30.4 percent (17-of-56) from the floor, including 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from three-point range and only 24.1 percent (7-of-29) overall in the second half.
• The Chargers shot 40.0 percent (18-of-45) from the field, including 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from beyond the arc.
• CBU out-rebounded the Chargers 35-34, including a 9-4 edge in offensive boards. Each team committed 13 turnovers.
COACH SARAH CONDRA'S THOUGHTS:"This game came down to two things. One was making plays, and they made more plays than we did. We shot 30 percent for the game, 24 percent in the second half. We had several opportunities at layups in the second half that we didn't make. They made theirs and we didn't, and there's the difference in the game."
"I was very disappointed in how we came out. In a game that you need to clinch, they got every 50-50 ball. They got all the hustle plays, and that can't happen on your home floor when you have an opportunity to clinch a tournament berth. That stuff can't happen."
WHAT'S NEXT:The Lady Bucs finish the regular season with two road games. They visit North Alabama Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m., and they wrap up the regular season at No. 11 Union Thursday night at 6 p.m.
