Box Score
Although the second game of the Fairfield Inn Christmas Classic was delayed briefly following a power outage due to inclement weather the Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team fell to Missouri-St. Louis 84-56 Saturday evening at the Owensboro Sportscenter. The Panthers are 6-4 overall following the game against the Tritons.
UMSL scored the opening basket of the game on a three pointer, but the Panthers scored the next four points to go ahead 4-3 just over a minute into play.
The Tritons built a 9-4 advantage with 16:50 remaining in the first half on a layup.
UMSL took a six point lead following two free throw shots with 13:28 to go before the break, but the Panthers converted on four free throw attempts and a jumper by junior
Jordanne Gambill to tie the game at 18 apiece with 11:15 on the clock.
Senior
T'Essence Phelps gave KWC its second lead of the game following a rebound and a made jumper to put the Panthers ahead 22-20 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Tritons hit a three almost a minute later to regain the lead.
Senior
Karly Rhoads made a three to tie the game at 37 apiece and Phelps made a layup to give KWC the 39-37 advantage heading into the break.
The Panthers shot 50 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes of play and went 13-14 from the stripe. UMSL converted on 37 percent of its shots from the floor and hit 86 percent from the free throw line.
The Tritons scored eight straight points in the first three minutes of play in the second half to go ahead 43-39.
Freshman
Erin Dorn ended the UMSL run on a layup with 16:08 to go in the game. Freshman
Jennifer Walker-Crawford pulled the Panthers within two on another layup. KWC was unable to get any closer to the Tritons as UMSL took the largest lead of the game at 84-54 with less than a minute remaining on the clock.
KWC shot 39 percent from the floor and 89 percent from the free throw line in the game. The Tritons made 41 percent of their shots from the field and went 28-32 from the stripe.
Gambill led the Panthers in scoring with 15 points. Phelps and senior
Kourtney Rhoads each had six rebounds on the night.
Kourtney Rhoads and freshman
Asia Coates both finished with two assists.
The Panthers play their final game of 2013 in the second day of the Fairfield Inn Christmas Classic on Sunday, Dec. 22 against McKendree. KWC beat McKendree earlier this season in Lebanon, Ill. 88-68 on Nov. 30.
