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01.28.09
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The game was everything you’d expect between two NAIA Top 25 teams.
After 13 ties and six lead changes, it was the 12th-ranked
Huntington University Foresters who prevailed in the barnburner
84-79 over the 18th-ranked Trojans of Taylor University.
The game had an identical start to the first meeting between the two
teams back on December 12 when Taylor routed the Foresters 61-45.
Huntington jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead only to have the Trojans
battle back to go up 11-9. But that is where the similarities
ended. In their first matchup, the Foresters managed just 16 points
in the first half and were never really in the contest, but this
time around they stayed aggressive. Huntington reclaimed the lead
at 15-13 on a layup at the 12:41 mark and they stayed in front for
most of the half. The Foresters mounted their largest lead of the
game at 34-25 with just under a minute left in the period and took a
34-28 advantage to the break.
The Trojans got the momentum as the second half began and used a
14-4 run to climb back in front at 42-38. Following a Huntington
timeout, the Foresters got back-to-back layups from Sarah Miller and
Lauren Davenport to even things up for the sixth time in the contest
with 14:37 to play. For the next 10 minutes, both teams matched the
other blow for blow and ended with the score knotted for the 13th
time at 66-66 with 4:48 remaining.
Huntington finally got some breathing room with a 9-0 run over a two
minute span, but the Trojans weren’t about to go away. Taylor
fought back within two at 78-76 with 1:18 on the clock, but a
Davenport jumper squelched the rally attempt and Huntington sealed
the win at the line.
The Foresters put four in double figures in the winning effort with
Davenport and Miller leading the way with 19 points apiece. Jenna
Donaldson finished with 17 points and Courtney Beerbower added 12.
Ryleigh Carr took game-high honors with seven rebounds off the bench
for Huntington. Taylor’s Paige Rudolph topped all scorers in the
game with 20 points. Bethany Ballard chipped in 18 and Allison
Reece had 11.
Box Score |
