Comeback Effort Falls Short as Women's Basketball Falls at Hannibal Lagrange
HANNIBAL, MO -- The Blackburn College Women's Basketball team came back from two double-digit deficits in the fourth quarter at Hannibal Lagrange University Tuesday night but were unable to capture victory as they fell 78-74 in nonconference action.
Junior Eizaenirys Allende Quinones led the way with 24 points, six rebounds and six steals. Senior Gabriela Solis finished with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Junior Cheresse Mitchell added 15 points and nine rebounds, with four assists as well. Junior Gracie Jent chipped in with nine points and four steals.
The Beavers scored first for the third straight game, but HLG responded and went up 10-4 early. Blackburn rallied back and after a Mitchell three pointer, the Trojan lead was just 14-13. The hosts held an 18-15 lead after the first quarter.
An early jumper from Solis in the second quarter made it 18-17. HLG eventually pulled ahead 28-20, but Quinones free throws and a layup got it to 28-24, but the hosts answered again and took a 38-27 lead into the break.
After halftime, the Beavers responded to reduce their deficit to 42-41 with 4:41 left in the third quarter. However, the Trojans responded once again to pull ahead 56-46 after three quarters.
HLG pulled ahead to open the fourth quarter to take a 62-50 lead. A three-point play from Quinones and two free throws from Jent pulled BC to 62-55, and after a layup and another three-point play from Quinones, followed by a Jent layup tied the game at 62-62 with 5:38 to go.
After a timeout, the Trojans answered the BC run with their own run to pull ahead 73-62 with 2:27 left in the game. Solis responded with two free throws, Quinones scored another layup, then after an HLG free throw, freshman Abby Borders and Jent both hit threes and made the score 74-72 with 59 seconds to go.
The hosts sank another free throw that Mitchell answered with a layup with 29 seconds left to make it 75-74. The Trojans sank a free throw to go ahead 76-74. The Beavers attempted to tie it with nine seconds left, but the shot was missed and HLG sank two more free throws to eventually win 78-74.
Blackburn will return to action Saturday when they open their home slate with Dominican University.
