The Skyhawk women’s basketball team kept pace with the 10-2 Lindenwood Lions every step of the way but were unable to take the lead, falling 62-59 to the Lions.
As close as the score was, it still fails to represent just how evenly matched both teams were. The Lions held the lead for just over 36 minutes but never extended the lead past 10 points, as the Skyhawks would always respond with points of their own.
Up until the bitter end, the Skyhawks would not go quietly. Pulling within three points of the Lions twice in the last 10 seconds of the game. The final shot coming from an Anaya Brown three-pointer with just 0.3 seconds remaining.
The loss marks the Skyhawks’ second to Lindenwood and finishes a series sweep by the Lions. Overall, the loss drops the Skyhawks to 9-15 and 6-7 in the OVC.
Neither team was feeling it to start the night as both teams shot a combined 25.5% from the field but the Skyhawks especially failed to get things going as they made just four field goals in the first half.
To combat this, the Skyhawks made a concerted effort to drive to the basket and draw fouls. A strategy that kept them in the game when their shooting couldn’t. The Skyhawks would shoot 14 free throws in the first half while the Lions wouldn’t attempt a single one.
In the second half, both teams would pick up the pace, but the Lions would take it to another level. They would go on to shoot 56% from the field in the second half compared to the Skyhawks’ 44.1%.
In a game as close as this any stat can be the difference between a win or a loss, but none stand out clearer here than points off the bench; a stat that the Lions led 11-2.
Leading the Skyhawks was sophomore guard Daejah Richmond who captured her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds after collecting her first against Little Rock on Saturday. Richmond also tallied five steals for the Skyhawks which is the second highest single game total of the season for the Skyhawks; falling just short of Shae Littleford’s six against SEMO.
Other contributors for the Skyhawks included junior forward Anaya Brown (20 points; 5 rebounds) and sophomore guard Kenley McCarn (18 points).
Looking ahead, the Skyhawks will welcome the 6-7 Western Illinois Leathernecks to Martin for the second meeting of the season on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m..
