Women's Basketball | 3/14/2026 9:56:42 AM

Story courtesy of Shawnee State University Athletics

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Shawnee State (23-8) upset No. 5 seed William Carey 74-72 on Wednesday to advance to the Round of 32, where it will face Evangel at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Bears started strong Wednesday evening, outscoring the Crusaders 23-19 in the first quarter.

Miyoshi Ellis scored 11 points in the period, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 1-of-2 at the foul line.

William Carey battled back in the second quarter, winning the frame 20-16 to tie the game at 39-39 at halftime.

Ellis co-led all scorers at the break, tied with William Carey's Addyson Sherer with 13 points apiece.

The Bears began to build a second-half lead in the third, outscoring the Crusaders 20-17 to take a 49-46 lead into the fourth.

Shawnee State led by five with five seconds remaining when William Carey's Brooklyn Cuevas hit a deep three-pointer to cut the Bears' lead to 74-72.

The Bears then committed a turnover on the ensuing inbound, giving the Crusaders a chance to tie or win the game with four seconds remaining.

William Carey ran a give-and-go on a sideline out-of-bounds play that appeared to give Leah Sutton an and-one at the rim. The play was instead ruled an offensive foul on Sutton, giving Shawnee State the ball with a two-point lead and one second remaining.

Mid-season transfer Giavonnie Belton drew the charge for the Bears in what will go down as one of the biggest plays of the season.

Shawnee State was able to run out the final second of the clock to secure a 74-72 upset win over William Carey.

Miyoshi Ellis led the Bears with 18 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 6-of-10 from the free-throw line while adding 10 assists to record her second double-double of the season.

Ra'Khyia Prince scored 14 points, shooting 4-of-8 from three-point range, while Laken Williams finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Kyla Torok also scored 13 points, with Jariah Steele adding eight and Emily Maynard six.