Rally Falls Short to No. 15 BCU
The women's basketball team never led but made a valiant last second effort against No. 15 Briar Cliff before falling, 72-67. The Tigers nearly overcame a 10 point deficit with 45 seconds left in the game.
Briar Cliff took advantage of nine turnovers in the 1st quarter by Doane to score nine points and take a 21-12 lead after 10 minutes of play. Despite the struggles taking care of the ball, Doane was hanging tough as they opened the game 5-of-7 shooting.
The Chargers built their largest lead early in the 2nd quarter at 16 points, 29-13. Doane continued to battle, knocking down three 3-point shots in the final four minutes of the quarter including two from Jenna Nieveen (JR/Sterling, Neb.) as the Tigers trailed 38-28 at the break.
The Tigers out-scored BCU by three points in the 3rd quarter but the rally didn't come until late. Trailing by 11 points, Doane converted back-to-back three-point plays from Shelbi Bittinger (SR/Milford, Neb.) and Nieveen to cut the deficit to five points. A jumper by the Chargers gave them a 53-46 lead heading to the final quarter.
A 3-point basket from Bittinger two minutes into the final quarter had Doane within three points, 56-53. After nearly three minutes of scoreless play, a three-point play from Lexi Henschke pushed the Charger lead back to six points. Following a foul with 45 seconds remaining and two made free throws, the Tigers found themselves down by 10 points.
McKenna Rossmeier (JR/Lynch, Neb.) entered the game as Bittinger fouled out on the previous BCU possession and she took full advantage of the closing moments. Rossmeier knocked down a 3-point basket to cut the lead to seven. After two missed free throws from the Chargers, Heather Broman (SR/Geneva, Neb.) was fouled and made both free throws. Briar Cliff made their two free throws to remain up by seven.
The Tigers came down and Rossmeier hit a 3-points shot with 10 seconds left and then stole the inbounds pass and made a lay-up while drawing a foul with six seconds left to have the Tigers down two points, 69-67. She intentionally missed the free throw as the Tigers hoped to get an offensive rebound but were unable to do so and fouled. BCU made one free throw to go up three but the Tigers turned over the ball trying to make a long pass ahead with four seconds left in the game. The Chargers made two free throws to cap the win in Crete.
Hanah Barnard (JR/Beatrice, Neb.) led the Tigers with 15 points on the day. Bittinger and Nieveen added 14 points apiece and Broman finished with 12 points. Broman and Bittinger tied for team-high honors with six rebounds apiece and Bittinger had a team-best four assists.
Briar Cliff received 19 points from Jessi Corrick and 14 points along with 10 rebounds from Morgan Hansen. The Chargers forced the Tigers into 22 turnovers which led to 23 BCU points but a huge difference came in rebounding. Normally a strength for the Tigers, BCU out-rebounded Doane on the offensive end 15-7 which led to a 17-2 advantage in second chance points.