LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University women's basketball team clinched the SLIAC regular-season championship winning a wild one over the Westminster Blue Jays, 91-82 in overtime.
Spalding closed the regular season by winning six straight, finishing 17-1 in conference and 20-4 overall. They are the one seed in next week's conference tournament, which takes place at Derek Smith Gymnasium.
Kayla Styles and
Jessica Guy were dominant throughout, with Styles totaling 29 points and 14 rebounds, and Guy pouring in 26 points (11-15 FG) and 16 rebounds.
Kallie Ash and
Hannah Washle finished in double figures as well, with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The game was close throughout the first half, with neither team able to go on a run for the first nine minutes of the game. With Spalding trailing 18-17 midway through the half, the Eagles started a 12-1 run to take a 29-19 lead with 7:50 remaining. Westminster rallied back on the strength of their three-point shooting to tie the game at 33 with just under four minutes until intermission. Spalding scored the last seven points of the half to take a 40-33 lead into the break.
Spalding took a 12 point lead early in the second half, but the Blue Jays would again use their three-point shooting and near spotless free throw shooting to get back into the ballgame. A late 10-3 run put Westminster ahead 78-73 with 2:20 remaining. Spalding scored the last five points of regulation, with Guy contributing a clutch three point play with 38 seconds remaining.
The overtime period was all Spalding, as the Eagles outscored the Blue Jays 13-4 in the extra period. The key play occurred when
Hannah Washle chased down her own miss and fed
Kallie Ash in the corner for the clinching three-pointer, putting Spalding ahead by seven points with 55 seconds remaining.
Up next, the Lady Golden Eagles will host the 2015 SLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament Thursday, February 26 and Saturday, February 28. Top-seeded Spalding will face off against the No. 4 seed Greenville College Thursday at 8:00 p.m. EST at Derek Smith Gymnasium.
Courtesy of Evan Skaggs
