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Second -half misfires lead to first round exit for HU women at national tourney

Second half shooting woes led to a first-round exit for the Huntington University women’s basketball team from the State Farm-NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship Tournament on Thursday, March 12, in Sioux City, IA, as the fifth-seeded Foresters fell to No. 4 College of Saint Mary, 63-54.

The Foresters, 22-10, shot 13 of 30 for 43.3 percent in the opening stanza and took an eight-point lead at halftime, 32-24. However, Huntington’s marksmanship dipped in the second half to 24.3 percent on a 9 of 37 effort, opening up the door for the Flames, 27-6, who clicked on 13 of 28 field goal attempts for 46.4 percent, bettering their first half showing of 29.4 percent on 10 of 34 shooting.

Huntington entered the game ranked third nationally in three-point shooting, sporting 38.3 percent marksmanship. The Foresters’ prowess beyond the arc was not evident in this contest, however, as they misfired on all 18 of their attempts.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair until the 4:30 mark, when junior Amelia Recker scored in the paint, sparking a 16-4 Forester run that ended the half. Recker then hit a free throw and sophomore Miranda Palmer scored three times in the paint. Three more buckets down low, by sophomore Allyson Trout, Palmer and senior Amelia Echemann, preceded another basket by Recker that capped the scoring spree.

Coach Lori Culler’s squad kept its foot on the gas coming out of the break, expanding its advantage to 36-26 a little under four minutes into the second half. Saint Mary had other plans, however, and the Flames went on a points binge of their own, outscoring Huntington 12-0 over the next five minutes to take a 38-36 lead with 10:13 to go and they never trailed again.

Recker paced the Foresters with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Palmer finished with 13 points, senior Courtney Baker collected 11 boards and junior Kelsey Hubble dished out a game-high five assists.

Huntington finished 22 of 67 from the field for 32.8 percent and 10 of 13 at the foul line for 76.9 percent.

Deaundra Young led the Flames with 27 points and 19 rebounds. Justice Ross chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

For the game, Saint Mary hit 23 of 62 field goals for 37.1 percent and 14 of 18 free throws for 77.8 percent.

Young’s efforts on the backboards gave the Flames a 45-43 edge in that department.