Rio women mount late rally, nip Bears

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Nail-biting finishes have not been part of the 2023-24 storyline for the University of Rio Grande women's basketball team.
     Saturday afternoon's River States Conference get together with rival Shawnee State University proved otherwise, though.
     The 18th-ranked RedStorm rallied from a seven-point third quarter deficit, taking the lead in the closing seconds and surviving a gut-wrenching finish for a 70-68 triumph over the Bears at a boisterous Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, which won for just the eighth time in the 56 all-time meetings between the two schools, pushed its record to 19-4 overall and 12-0 in conference play.
     Shawnee State, which lost to the RedStorm for a second straight time, dropped to 14-9 overall and 6-6 against RSC foes.
     The Bears transformed a three-point deficit at the close of the opening period into a one-point halftime lead and then to a seven-point cushion, 47-40, after a pair of free throws by Cianna Gloster with 5:46 left in the third quarter.
     Shawnee's lead remained at six points entering the final quarter and the visitors maintained their edge throughout until Rio knotted the score at 61-all on a three-pointer by senior Lavender Ward (Charleston, WV) with 5:55 remaining.
     The RedStorm also tied the game at 64-64 with 3:25 left on a three-pointer by junior Kaylee Darnell (Wheelersburg, OH) before finally regaining the lead - its first since 35-34 with just over two minutes left in the second quarter - when a trifecta by senior Reagan Willingham (Ashville, OH) made it 67-66 with 2:35 remaining.
     Shawnee State grabbed the lead back, 68-67, on a layup by Gloster with 1:47 left, setting up the game's frantic finish.
     Rio Grande missed a shot and committed a turnover on its two ensuing possessions, before another three-pointer by Darnell with 18.8 seconds remaining gave the RedStorm a 70-68 cushion.
     Darnell was also fouled on the play, but misfired on her subsequent free throw attempt which could've extended the lead and Gloster pulled away the rebound.
     The Bears immediately called timeout in order to advance the ball into the frontcourt and then called another timeout with 6.9 seconds left when a scoring opportunity didn't quickly materialize.
     Following the second timeout, SSU's Sanaya Gregory took the inbounds pass and maneuvered her way to the goal, but her reverse layup attempt was off the mark and Rio junior Azyiah Williams (Ripley, OH) came away with the rebound as time expired.
     Rio Grande shot just 39 percent overall (25-for-64) and 64.7 percent at the foul line (11-for-17), but was 9-for-18 from beyond the three-point arc (50.0%), including a perfect 5-for-5 in the final period.
     Darnell led a quartet of double-digit scorers for the RedStorm with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. She rounded out a solid all-around effort with five rebounds and two steals.
     Willingham added 13 points, junior Lexi Woods (Waverly, OH) had 12 points and three steals and Ward netted 11 points of her own.
     Junior Harlei Antritt (Newark, OH) led Rio with nine rebounds.
     Shawnee State shot just 38.5 percent overall (20-for-52) and 29.4 percent from distance (5-for-17), but maintained its lengthy lead by going 23-for-32 at the foul line (71.9%).
     Markayla Holland scored a game-high 20 points in the loss for the Bears, while also finishing with a game-best six steals.
     Gloster had eight points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots for SSU, while Gregory had six points, six assists and five rebounds.
     Rio Grande is set to return to action on Monday evening when it faces Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
     Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.