FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- The Siena Heights women's basketball team rallied back in the second half from an 18-point deficit, but came up short in a 76-72 loss at 11th-ranked Indiana Tech on Sunday afternoon. Junior Kelsey Wyman (Blissfield, Mich.) led the Saints with 20 points and six steals in the losing effort.
THE BASICS
Final Score: #11 Indiana Tech 76, Siena Heights 72
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana (Schaefer Center)
Records: Indiana Tech (16-1, 4-0 WHAC), Siena Heights (4-2, 1-1 WHAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Saints trailed 4-0 in the opening two minutes of the first quarter. Allye Minor (Bryan, Ohio) made a layup to put Siena on the board. The teams traded baskets before Indiana Tech used a 5-0 run to build an 11-4 lead. Minor struck again, this time from three, to put SHU within three points of tying things, 13-10, with just under five minutes left in the first quarter. A jump shot by the Warriors sparked a 7-0 run and helped the hosts achieve the game's first double-digit lead (20-10) with just above three minutes remaining in the opening period. Wyman made a jumper with 1:01 left to bring the deficit to just nine points at the end of the first.
Two free throws in the opening 20 seconds for the Warriors extended the lead to 11 points. A three-point jumper for Indiana Tech completed an 8-0 run and gave the Warriors the largest lead of the game, 38-20, with 5:14 left in the first half. Siena continued to battle, but the home team held a 15-point advantage as the teams entered the locker rooms at the half.
Three straight buckets for the Saints had them starting the second half with a 6-0 run and a single-digit deficit (45-36). Siena Heights continued to hang around despite Indiana Tech maintaining its double-digit lead at the end of the third quarter, 59-49.
Wyman made a three to start the fourth-quarter scoring, but a jumper and a layup put the Tech lead up to 11 points. Sha'Kyia Parker made a three-pointer to spark an 11-0 run that brought the Saints within two points, 63-61, of the lead with just 3:23 remaining in regulation. Siena Heights would come within two points of tying things again, 74-72, but the Warriors would hold onto the lead and earn the victory.
TOP SAINTS
• Wyman finished the game 7-11 from the floor, 3-5 from three, and 3-3 from the free-throw line in the loss. She led the team with six steals and had two assists and a rebound.
• Minor finished with 18 points on 7-11 shooting. She dished five assists, a team-high, and three rebounds.
• Junior Peyton Banks (Wadsworth, Ohio) scored 11 points and hauled in four rebounds.
THE OPPOSITION
• Alexis Hill led all with 23 points and seven rebounds.
• Kyra Whitaker scored 19 points and Erika Foy made another 18.
UP NEXT
The Saints return home to face conference opponent Lourdes on Wednesday, February 3. The game is set for a 5:00 p.m., EST.
