Brescia outlasts Asbury in KIAC WBB Game of the Week OT thriller

1/10/2016 12:00:00 AM

By Asbury Sports Information

OWENSBORO, Ky. - It was tabbed as the KIAC Women's Basketball Game of the Week, and it didn't dissappoint. Lead changes, ties, late drama and plenty of scoring littered the full 45 minutes of play as Brescia (Ky.) University pulled out a gut-wrenching, 83-80 victory over visiting Asbury (Ky.) University to gain ground in the KIAC's Capital Division standings.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

Asbury's Brittany Warren led all scorers with 22 points on the night, including 4-for-10 from three point range. She finished 9-of-22 from the field and added six rebounds.
Asbury's Kali Whiteside recorded a double-double for the Eagles, including two clutch free throws and a bucket in the fourth quarter to help force the extra frame. She finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Brescia's Julie Whitfill, the KIAC's leading scorer at 20-plus PPG, was held in check for the most part as she netted 14 points. The Bearcats' Shelbi Samsil was the catalyst thoughout as she scored a team-high 20 points.
Other double digit point getters for both teams included: Asbury: Kylee Gorby 17, Savannah Taylor 11, and Catie Fletcher 11. Brescia: Kelsey Kirkpatrick 14, Haley Cook 11, and Samantha Shoulders 15.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Brescia and Asbury went head to head through the first quarter, heading into the second with a score of 19-18 in favor of the Brescia. Warren was a perfect 3-for-3 in the frame from deep and BU's Aaliyah Rodgers hit a lay-up with less than ten seconds remaining to put the hosts ahead.
A lopsided run to start the second quarter put the Bearcats up 10 points before Asbury responded and cut into the lead. The Brescia lead would never relinquish, however, and the hosts took a 33-31 lead into the halftime break.
In the third, Brescia put an end to a big momentum shift for Asbury. Although Warren and Co., took to the scoring and turned the tables on Brescia to take a 52-48 lead after three quarters, a clutch trey from Kelsey Kirkpatrick at the end of the quarter brought Brescia within four points and gave the Bearcats some life.
The hosts used the momentum to take a lead later in regulation, but a clutch 3 from Gorby, her second of the night, with five seconds left tied the game at 72 points apiece and forced overtime.
The OT period opened with a trey from Warren and lay-in from Gorby, but the Eagles went cold and soon looked up at a four point deficit, one they wouldn't recover from. Brescia made 1 of 2 free throws for an 83-80 lead. A trey by Warren at the buzzer was no good for Asbury.

GAME NOTES

Asbury fell to 5-1 in the KIAC but still sits atop the KIAC Capital Division with just one conference loss. Brescia's win improved them to 5-2 in the KIAC Capital Division and sit right behind the Eagles in the standings.
The Bearcats will make the return trip to the Luce Center on January 26th for the second of the home-and-home conference schedule.
It was the second KIAC game of the week for the Eagles this season. They are now 1-1 in those games.
Asbury went to OT for the third time this season, all against conference opponents. They are now 2-1 in those games. For Brescia it was their first OT game of the year and are now 1-0.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Eagles outrebounded the Bearcats 43-30 in the contests and nearly tripled them in offensive rebounding (15-6) leading to a 16-2 advantage in the second chance points department.
Both teams shot 45 percent from the field in the contest but Brescia's 10-for-20 behind the arc and their advantage from the charity stripe proved to be a difference maker.
Both teams had five double digit points getters with Warren's 22 leading the way and Samsil's 20 second most in the game.