MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College women's basketball team's second-half comeback efforts fell short in its 61-58 loss to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) foe Benedict at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center on Thursday.
The Tigers jumped ahead to a 6-0 lead by the first media break early in the game. The Badgers answered after that by bringing the game within one (6-5) while being led by freshman guard
Kellyn Hunter, who scored three of the five points. Benedict stacked its lead up to 14-7 by the end of the first quarter.
Spring Hill came out swinging in the second quarter, bringing the game back within one point (14-13) after a combined 6-0 run from
Yolanda Nelson and
Marta Duda. SHC and BC went back-and-forth through the next media timeout. The Tigers bolted back ahead by 13 points (33-20) by the halftime buzzer.
The Badgers chipped away in the third quarter, stringing together two big scoring runs that helped push them ahead, 42-41, by the end of the third quarter. The second-half comeback continued into the fourth quarter with the help of
Ariel Thompson, who, in her first game of the season, tied the game at 54-54 before the team continued and got the game within one (59-58).
In the end, Benedict came away with the 61-58 victory over SHC.
Duda led the game in scoring with 20 points and Hunter led the team with six rebounds. Benedict was led by Amaya Ashby, who had a double-double that featured 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Game Details
Date: Jan. 4
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Venue (Location): Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center (Mobile, Ala.)
Results
Benedict 61, Spring Hill 58
Records: Benedict (2-9, 1-5 SIAC), Spring Hill (2-8, 2-4 SIAC)
They Said It
Head Coach Dan Presel
On the game
"We didn't have the start in the first half that everyone wanted. I think they did a good job taking us out of our stuff with their pressing. I'm really proud of our kids and their effort in the second half. We figured out some things. I feel like - enough plays on the floor - I'm not going to sleep well tonight, because that last play I got to get something better. I told them at the beginning, Bendict's record is not great this year, but that's a team that's been winning this league for the last decade. So, they know how to win and they expect to win. Proud of our kids, man [they] never stopped, never quit. As upset as I am at the loss, I'm feeling really optimistic about what's about to happen."
On Ariel Thompson's return
"It's a huge lift, you could feel it when she checked in - how excited our kids were. We've had to play pretty small here and it's been hard for us to finish in the paint that way. Bringing her back is another all-conference caliber player when she can get her legs under her and start getting back up to speed.
Kellyn Hunter (Guard, Fr.)
On the game
"The team played well coming back from just not playing hard in the beginning. I like how we came together and played hard, it's not what we wanted in the end, but we're going to keep working."
Up Next
Spring Hill will host Allen in conference play on Saturday.
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