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12.13.08
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In a game that resembled a track meet more than a
basketball game, it was the run and gun style of NAIA Division I
Olivet Nazarene University (7-3) that eventually wore down
Huntington University giving the Tigers an 89-87 come-from-behind
win. Substituting five players at a time every minute, ONU used
relentless full court pressure with non-stop trapping and a frenetic
pace to force the Foresters into an uncharacteristic 34 turnovers in
the game.
Huntington came out strong against the Tigers’
pressure. The Foresters broke down ONU’s press easily in the
opening minutes scoring on numerous layups and putbacks to take a
15-5 lead through five minutes of play. The Tigers took advantage
of a couple of HU turnovers to pull within four at 15-11, but the
Foresters continued to get high percentage shots and pushed the
margin up to 13 at 31-18 midway through the period. Another ONU run
cut it to seven at the 6:51 mark, but Huntington closed out the half
on a 17-9 run to take a 51-36 lead to the locker room.
The Foresters were able to maintain their lead early
in the second half and were up 67-53 at the 14 minute mark. From
there the momentum began to shift. Over the next five minutes,
Huntington committed seven turnovers in 10 possessions which allowed
the Tigers to pull within two at 71-69 with 9:44 to play. The two
teams then traded the lead back and forth a few times until Danielle
Pipal put ONU on top 76-75 at the 7:32 mark. The Tigers built a
six-point cushion and still had it at 87-81 with 2:18 left in the
game.
Huntington closed to within two at 87-85 with 46
seconds left, but Poppy Miller scored on a driving layup to make it
89-85. The Foresters Lauren Davenport pushed the ball up the floor
and scored a layup with seven seconds left. Huntington then sent
Courtney Hehn to the line and she gave the Foresters one more chance
when she misfired on both tries. Davenport pushed it up, but her
final try bounced off the front of the rim.
Both teams put five players in double figures with
Huntington’s Beerbower taking game-high honors with 18 points and 17
rebounds. Jenna Donaldson finished with 17 points, Kelsey Green and
Brita Kuiper both chipped in 16 off the bench and Davenport finished
with 10. Jealyn Foston led the Tigers with 17points. Miller added
16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Huntington shot 43.4% from the field hitting 33 of 76
shots while the Tigers were 32-80 for 40%, including 12-49 from
behind the arc. The Foresters out-rebounded ONU 63-37.
Box Score |
