Mikalee Martin/Women's Basketball | Tennessee Wesleyan University
Mikalee Martin/Women's Basketball | Tennessee Wesleyan University
The women's basketball team went on the road for the first time in 2023 on Saturday. The team traveled to take on the (RV) Reinhardt University Lady Eagles, the No. 1 team in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standing entering the game.
A free throw by Mikalee Martin gave the Lady Bulldogs the first lead of the game. After a three-point basket by Reinhardt, Cambree Mayo responded with a three-point jumper of her own to make the 4-3. Jordan Wright followed with a layup to move the team's lead to 6-3. Martin's three-point basket broke a 6-6 tie, making the score 9-6 through the midway point of the first quarter. Jacelyn Stone broke a 9-9 tie with a layup before four straight points pushed the opponents ahead. Wright tied the game with a jump shot but two more baskets by Reinhardt gave them a four-point cushion. Ella Crowder drew a shooting foul at the end of the quarter, knocking down two free throws to make the score 17-15 to begin the first.
Three ties occurred in the first three minutes. Yeika Jimenez Diaz caused the first one with her layup to open the second quarter. Wright caused the second one and the third came after Martin gave the team a 21-19 lead with a layup. A pair of free throws by Mayo started a 13-2 run, helping the team lead 34-23 with 2:57 until halftime. Jimenez Diaz, Martin, Stone, and Ashley Baxter all scored during the run. The team led 34-27 at the half.
Out of the halftime break, Reinhardt scored nine straight points to pull ahead 36-34. Jimenez Diaz broke the scoring drought for the Lady Bulldogs with free throws, and Alexis Bates put the game in a 38-38 tie with a jump shot. Another tie occurred as a free throw by Crowder made the score 39-39. The opponents broke the tie with five straight points, making the score 44-39. A three-pointer by Jaci Powell cut the deficit to two points and it seemed like the team would go into the fourth quarter down two points. Stone changed that as Powell stole the ball on Reinhardt's final possession, converting a three-point play at the sound of the buzzer to give TWU a 45-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Momentum did not stay with the Lady Bulldogs after the exciting end to the third quarter. The tea went through a cold spell in the fourth quarter, missing their first 12 shots. Jimenez Diaz had the only shot for the team in the quarter, a three-pointer, but it was not enough as Reinhardt won the game 63-48.
Jimenez Diaz led the team on offense with nine points. Martin added eight points for the Lady Bulldogs.
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