Asbury (Ky.) beats #23 IU Northwest in KIAC Game of the Week
(By Asbury Sports Information)
WILMORE, Ky. - Asbury took the ball away via steal 13 separate times Friday night and forced the RedHawks of IU Northwest into 24 turnovers to literally steal away the game and capture the win 78-69. An early run of 19-5 midway in the first and through the second put the Eagles up by 16 at the break, during which time they caused eight turnovers on seven steals in full court press.
Asbury (5-4, 2-0 KIAC) held off the 23rd-ranked RedHawks (7-3) in the second half, fending off the visitors despite allowing the lead to be cut to as little as three.
Things picked up in the second half as the RedHawks tried to claw their way back on top of the Eagles. A 12-4 run capped off by Grayce Roach's three at the 4:11 remaining mark in the third quarter cut the Eagles' lead to single digits for the first time in over 15 minutes of game play. Three of Brittany Warren's 17 points on the way back down the court pushed the lead again to double digits but Tara Zlotkowski and crew answered with four straight points to make the game 49-42 with 3:12 left in the third.
The Asbury lead was cut to as little as five in the third quarter after the backend of two Roach free throws but a mini 6-0 run capped by a Haley Warren double dip of free throws pushed the lead back to double digits headed into the final frame.
The Eagles' 10-point lead with 8:43 left in regulation dwindled to three over the next two minutes and change but the RedHawks would get no closer. Two timely buckets and handful of rebounds on hustle plays from Victoria Floyd sparked the Eagles and shut down the comeback attempt from the visitors. Two Kylee Gorby free throws in crunch time followed by a matching effort by Catie Fletcher and again by Gorby sealed the deal in the end.
Asbury finished the game on a 8-2 run to extend a three-point lead to nine for the conclusion.
The game, the Game of the Week for the KIAC, marked the fourth time the Eagles have faced a ranked opponent this season. They are now 1-3 in those contests.
The Eagles will get back at it in the 20th annual Zweifel/Pritchett Classic against Miami-Middletown on Saturday at 4 p.m. Catch the lucrative Media Communications production of the game for FREE on the Asbury Stretch Internet portal.