The UTM women’s basketball team squared up with sixth-ranked Louisville and not only held its own, but possessed a lead as large as 10 and controlled the game’s lead through the first 38 minutes of the contest before ultimately falling just short in double overtime by a final score of 71-63.
The Skyhawks (4-6) jumped out to an early advantage, leading by double digits in the first quarter behind a 10-0 run. After Louisville responded by cutting the margin, the Skyhawks hung tough, controlling the lead until the 2:03 mark of the fourth quarter. From there the game was up for grabs as the contest went to double overtime and saw the lead change hands seven times while featuring eight ties after halftime.
With UTM’s intensity and defensive prowess paving the way for success by forcing 22 turnovers while recording 15 steals, it was the team’s offensive shortcoming – especially at the free throw line which proved to be the difference in the game. The Skyhawks would shoot just 36.5 percent from the floor but the team’s struggles at the free throw line, where the team shot just 15-of-28 (53.6 percent), limited the team’s ability to put away the nationally ranked Cardinals.
Sophomore Damiah Griffin posted the best game of her Skyhawk career with her first double-double. Griffin made 8-of-13 field goal attempts while cashing in on nine free throws en route to setting new career-highs with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, the junior post duo of Maddie Waldrop (12 points, eight rebounds) and Chelsey Perry (11 points, nine rebounds) just missed out on double-doubles of their own.
“I hate this for our kids because I think they deserved to win the game but we have to make free throws,” head coach Kevin McMillan said. “I love the way our kids played but our margin for error is just so small. These kids played their rear ends off and whoever came to this game, got their money’s worth tonight. I am really proud of our girls.”
No. 6 Louisville (11-1) finished non-conference play in dramatic fashion. The Cardinals would shoot just 37.3 percent from the floor despite scoring 18 of the team’s points in transition. Three different players scored in double figures for the visitors as junior phenom Dana Evans played all 50 minutes while leading the team with 22 points and eight assists. Kylee Shook posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Yacine Diop rounded out the Cardinals in double figures with 15 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
UTM will look to wrap up non-conference play with a matchup at No. 20 ranked Arkansas following on Sunday, Dec. 29.
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