December 15, 2009

RedStorm fall short to Shawnee

Rio Grande --- It was a classic case of coulda, shoulda, woulda for the University of Rio Grande RedStorm women's basketball team on Tuesday night against arch rival Shawnee State at the Newt Oliver Arena. Rio led for over 35 minutes but in the end could not close the deal in losing 67-65 to the NAIA Division II No. 4 Lady Bears. 

The two teams traded the lead early in the game as both sides suffered through sluggish starts. Rio Grande (7-5) gained the lead at 14-8 and held on for the remainder of the first half. The RedStorm would build the lead to nine points at 24-15 at the 6:39 mark on a trifecta from junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH).

Shawnee State (9-1) then made a run to get back into the game after Rio Grande hit a dry spell that lasted nearly five minutes. During that stretch, Shawnee State climbed to within two points at 24-22.

Rio Grande would take a 29-25 lead to the locker room at the half.

Both teams turned up the wick in the second half as Rio made 14-of-25 (56 percent) attempts from the field after halftime and Shawnee State made 13-of-24 (54.2 percent). 

The RedStorm went up 46-39 and had Shawnee State on the ropes, but the Lady Bears fought back and tied the score at 47-47 and would eventually take the lead at 57-55. That advantage would climb to five points at 60-55 after an Abby Ballman three-pointer.

With 1:33 remaining in the contest, Shawnee State received a boost from Jill Cropper, who had been held in check all game long. Cropper nailed a trey from the top of the key to give SSU some breathing room at 65-58. That basket would prove to be the play of the game.

Rio Grande countered with a three-pointer from junior guard Jenna Smith (Bellefontaine, OH), but in the end it was not enough.

Rio placed three players in double figures led by Smith's 16 points (12 of which came in the second half). Junior point guard Bre Davis (Marietta, OH) added 15 points and junior forward Leah Kendro (Strongsville, OH) chipped in 14 points.

Mallory Albers of Shawnee State led all scorers in the game with 27 points (21 in the second half). Ballman added 11 points and Whitney Williams tossed in 10. Cropper was the top rebounder in the game with seven to go along with seven points. 

Rio Grande head coach David Smalley was pleased with his team's effort, but singled out Rio's 26 turnovers as the key in the outcome. "I was extremely pleased with our players' energy and effort, they're doing everything we're asking," he said. "I think we're really stair-stepping, we're really coming along and we're doing some nice things."

"We didn't get a W tonight, should have, could have, we let one slip away," Smalley added. "We turned it over 26 times and that's really the difference in the ball game right there."

Next up: Rio Grande will travel to Point Park on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game. Stretch Internet will provide play-by-play coverage beginning at 1:45 p.m.