ADRIAN, MICH. – The Siena Heights Women's Basketball Team lost a hard fought battle for their first home loss of the season in their second game of the SHU Thanksgiving Tournament, falling 54-53 to Keiser University.
A slow start and difficult shooting got the game off on the wrong foot for the Saints. The teams went back and forth through the first quarter with SHU taking their first lead on a three point basket by Sha'kyia Parker with 1:30 left in the first quarter. At the end of the quarter, SHU trailed 17-16. In the second quarter the Saint shot only 13.3% including a 0-7 clip from behind the three point stripe to come away at the break down by two. Their 5-6 mark from the free throw stripe kept them close to the Seahawks.
The 3rd quarter started with a 4-0 Keiser run before a Peyton Banks three pointer cut the lead back to three points. After a Keiser free throw, a Parker three pointer cut the lead back to one point with 5:45 left in the quarter. Two free throws by Banks gave SHU a lead with 4:34 remaining. The quarter ended with back to back Keiser three pointers creating a five point deficit for the Saints.
The 4th quarter started with another 4-0 Keiser run to create a nine point Saints deficit. Parker and Banks hit back to back three pointers before a E'Anna Won steal followed by another Parker three tied the game with 6:48 remaining. Keiser responded with a 7-0 run over the next three minutes.
Two more free throws by Banks and another Parker three brought the game back to a two point margin with two minutes left. With 45 second left in the game, SHU had the ball in their hands before a turnover gave the ball back to Keiser with fifteen seconds remaining. A Keiser free throw and a defensive rebound for the Saints gave them another shot down three with ten seconds left. A foul by Keiser and two free throws by Hinton brought the Saints to within a point. After a SHU foul, Keiser missed two free throws with SHU pulling in the rebound for one final chance with 2.3 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for the Saints, Keiser intercepted the inbounds pass and the game ended with Keiser up 54-53.
On the game, Parker and Banks led the way with 25 and 18 points respectively. Olivia DeLong had a team high seven rebounds Parker and Won each dishing out three assists. Won also added four steals with Banks and DeLong adding two blocks each.
In the first game of the day, Lawrence Tech defeated Governors State in overtime by a score of 57-56. The All Tournament Team was selected as Angelique Cowan from Governors State, Sha'kyia Parker from Siena Heights, Kennedy Schlabach from Keiser, Elise Ellison-Coons from Keiser, Jade Faris from Lawrence Tech and MVP Kendall Fisher from Lawrence Tech.
UP NEXT – Siena Heights will return to action on Wednesday, November 30th when they host Madonna for a conference matchup at 6 pm.
