Badger comeback falls short against Tigers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Spring Hill College women's basketball team fell on the road to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) foe Edward Waters, 73-65, at the Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex on Saturday.
 
The Tigers jumped ahead to a 15-7 lead early by the first media timeout. The Badgers kept chipping away behind 3-pointers from Tiana Smith, Marta Duda and a pair of free throws from Kellyn Hunter. Spring Hill's tenacity in the first quarter kept Edward Waters within striking range (19-17) by the end of the first quarter.
 
Nicole Blanch found Duda in the paint to open scoring in the second quarter and tie the game at 19-19. Edward Waters responded with a 13-2 run and surged back ahead, 32-21, by the next break. EWU pressed and held a 40-26 lead over SHC at the halftime break.
 
The Badgers cut the Tiger lead down to seven points (44-37) halfway through the third quarter of play. Claudia Garrido found Duda, who was in the paint again, to keep the game within four points (47-43). Edward Waters maintained a 54-45 lead through the third quarter despite the Badgers shooting 50 percent from the floor (8-16) and winning the quarter (19-14).
 
The final quarter of play was a closely-contested one, but despite SHC outscoring EWU for the second-straight period (20-19), the Badgers fell 73-65.
 
Spring Hill recorded a season-high 11 steals during the game. Duda led the game in scoring with a season-high 27 points and narrowly missed her third double-double of the year with nine rebounds. EWU's Imani Harris crashed the glass and led the game with 10 rebounds.
 
Game Details
Date: Dec. 16
Time: 3 p.m. (EST)
Venue (Location): Adams-Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex (Jacksonville, Fla.)
 
Results
Edward Waters 73, Spring Hill 65
Records: Edward Waters (4-4, 2-2 SIAC), Spring Hill (2-6, 2-2 SIAC)
 
Up Next
The Badgers will conclude the calendar year with a road SIAC contest at Savannah State on Monday.
 
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