LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding University women's basketball team could not overcome a slow fourth quarter falling to Greenville, 71-58, Wednesday evening at Derek Smith Gymnasium. The loss drops the Golden Eagles record to 10-14 on the season and 8-8 in conference taking the Golden Eagles out of SLIAC Tournament contention. The Panthers secured the SLIAC regular season championship with the win improving to 19-5 overall and 14-1 in SLIAC play.  

THE BASICS
THE SCORE: Greenville 71 – Spalding 58
LOCATION: Derek Smith Gymnasium, Louisville, Ky.   
RECORD: Spalding 10-14 (8-8 SLIAC), Greenville 19-5 (14-1 SLIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Spalding raced out to a 12-3 lead following an Allison Just three-pointer at the 6:19 mark. Megan Barrett converted a layup with 38 seconds to play, but Tselem Gahagan answered with a jumper at the buzzer to push SU's lead to five points after one quarter. Spalding held the lead throughout the second with an Alex Martin three-pointer pushing the margin to eight points midway through the quarter. Leading by six with 20 seconds left in the half, Spalding looked to take the last shot. However, and ill-advised three-pointer with 13 seconds left followed by a turnover on the rebound led to a Greenville three-pointer before the horn trimming the SU lead to three points, 36-33, at the half. The Panthers' Kelly Lenz connected from beyond the arc to even the score, 36-36, on Greenville's first possession of the third quarter, but SU pulled back in front, 51-49, with 1:13 to play in the third. The Panthers scored the equalizer on the final possession of the third to even the score, 51-51, heading into the fourth quarter. SU and Greenville exchanged baskets to start the fourth, with the Golden Eagles pulling ahead, 54-53, on a Martin jumper with 8:16 to go. However, the Greenville defense smothered the Golden Eagles holding them to four points over the final 8:16 as Spalding fell, 71-58.

Alex Martin led Spalding with 17 points, Allison Just added 12 points, and Lelanda Matthews pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

The biggest statistical factor was the Panthers ability to hit the three=-point shot. Greenville finished the game 9-of-18 (50%), while the Golden Eagles struggled going 4-of-19 (21.1%) from beyond the arc.

FOR THE FOES

Maria Reinhard paced Greenville with 16 points, Wesley Woodard scored 11 points, and Megan Barrett added 10 points to round out Panthers in double figures.

UP NEXT

The Golden Eagles wrap up the season with Senior Day hosting St. Mary-of-the-Woods. Tip-off is 1 pm EST at Derek Smith Gymnasium.