OWENSBORO, Ky. (Feb. 26) – Senior
Samantha Aikens (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) sank a pair of free throws with time expired to send the game into overtime, but the Tigers could not pull off the upset and lost 63-52 to Kentucky Wesleyan Thursday evening at the Owensboro Sportscenter.
The loss drops the Salem International women's basketball team to 0-27 overall, 0-15 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play. Meanwhile, the Panthers improve to 12-3 in conference action, 17-8 overall.
Senior
Shakinah Haggins (Lakeland, Fla.) led the Tigers with 18 points, while Aikens paced her effort with 16 points and five steals. Junior
Alexus Cooper (Richmond, Va.) added 10 points and senior
Amanda Jackson (Dayton, Ohio) tallied six points and a team-best 10 rebounds.
The Tigers got off to a slow start in the first half, shooting just 25 percent (5-of-20) with 10 turnovers, and trailed 23-11 entering halftime.
The Panthers extended their lead to 15, 26-11, with 17:21 remaining in the game before Salem International made its push back into the game. The Tigers went on a 21-6 run, including 14-unanswered, the draw even at 32-32 with 8:31 left in regulation. Salem International converted nine-of 15 attempts (60 percent) from the field during the run, while Kentucky Wesleyan shot only three-of-13 (23 percent) during the same span.
The Panthers responded with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to give them a 42-34 lead with 5:44 remaining in the game, but Salem International clawed its way back into the contest.
Trailing 49-42 with 1:38 on the clock, Haggins nailed a three-pointer to pull within four points, 49-45. The Tigers then forced three-consecutive Kentucky Wesleyan turnovers, but split three trips to the free-throw line to cut the deficit to one, 49-48, with 17 seconds left in the game.
The Panthers split a pair of free throws with 13 seconds remaining to extend their lead to 50-48 with 13 seconds left in the game. After a Tiger timeout, Aikens drew a foul as time expired and sunk both free throws to send the game into overtime.
Despite sending the game into the extra session, Salem International was outscored 13-2 in overtime and was denied the upset bid.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half and never possessed the lead at any point in the contest. Kentucky Wesleyan held the rebounding advantage, 46-30, including a 14-5 edge in offensive rebounds.
Jordanne Gambill led the Panthers with 13 points in the victory.
Salem International concludes its season this Saturday, Feb. 28, when the head to Nashville to take on Trevecca Nazarene. The opening-tip is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT), 3 p.m. (EST).
