Schreiner University got taught a lesson Friday night — don't box yourself into a tight spot.
Despite plenty of chances to separate against visiting Huston-Tillotson College, Schreiner's women's basketball team couldn't convert basket in the final seconds in a 76-71 loss.
The Lady Rams were better than Schreiner in shooting and at the free-throw line, and they recovered from 34 turnovers — most of them forced by the Mountaineers 1-2-1-1 full-court zone press.
Schreiner's Andrea Salazar scored a season-high 12 points. |
And the Lady Rams were undoubtedly aided by a Schreiner performance that saw the Mountaineers miss 18 3-point attempts, finishing the night with a season-low two made 3-pointers. The Mountaineers turned the ball over 26 times, including in some crucial second-half moments when Huston-Tillotson implemented its trapping full-court press.
Schreiner showed inexperience during that press when the Mountaineers' guards were trapped in corners, forcing errant passes.
However, the 3-point shooting has been a real struggle in the last three games, where the Mountaineers are 9-of-59 (15.2%).
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This was also a very different game for the Mountaineers in terms of personnel. While seniors Josline Hernandez and Gabby Ivarra started, first-year coach Stacy Stephens played 10 players.
"It really comes to maturity, we have a lot of freshmen," said Stephens, whose team is now 1-4 on the season. "We have a lot of people who only played six games last year, and we only have about four people who have played a real season."
So, the Mountaineers are a bit rough around the edges, but there were positives.
With 34 seconds left, Demauria Miles made a steal and drove for a layup to cut the Lady Rams lead to 70-68. On the inbounds play, Schreiner Elisa Peralta fouled Ilana Sanford, who converted two free throws — boosting the Huston-Tillotson lead to 72-68.
On Schreiner's next possession, Hernandez took a pass from Aazayleah Pirtle and knocked down a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining — cutting the lead to 72-71. However, that's as close as the Mountaineers would get. Schreiner was able to get one more possession but missed three consecutive shots. The Lady Rams made four consecutive free throws to close out the game and earn the victory — just their second of the season.
Andrea Salazar led Schreiner with a season-high 12 points, while Peralta added a season-high 11 points in just 14 minutes of action off the bench. The Mountaineers return to action at noon on Nov. 27 by playing host to Howard Payne.
Elisa Peralta scored 11 points for the Mountaineers in 14 minutes of action. |
Nylah Raines drives against Huston-Tillotson defenders on Friday night. |
Schreiner's Gabby Ivarra makes a pass in the second-half on Friday night. |
Schreiner's Aazayleah Pirtle had five steals and seven points, but it was a late assist that helped bring the Mountaineers back into the game. |
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