Shawnee State edges William Carey in NAIA women’s basketball tournament

Springfield, Mo. — William Carey’s women’s basketball season concluded Friday night after a 74-72 loss to Shawnee State in the first round of the NAIA National Championship at AG Financial Arena.

The game was tightly contested from the start, with both teams trading baskets throughout the opening quarter. Jenna Garriga opened the scoring for William Carey, but Shawnee State responded quickly. The Bears took a 23-19 lead after one quarter, aided by a three-pointer at the buzzer.

In the second quarter, Shawnee State extended its lead to 28-19 before William Carey rallied with a nine-point run. Brooklyn Cuevas and Leah Sutton hit key three-pointers to help tie the game at 28. The Lady Crusaders took a 39-39 tie into halftime.

The Bears seized momentum in the third quarter, opening with a 7-2 run to lead by five. William Carey responded with a run of its own, cutting the deficit to three late in the quarter. Shawnee State maintained a narrow lead, heading into the final period with a 59-56 advantage.

The fourth quarter featured multiple lead changes, with William Carey tying the game at 61 on a three-pointer from Garriga. The teams traded baskets and leads before Shawnee State built a 74-69 advantage with less than 30 seconds remaining.

William Carey made a late push, with Brooklyn Cuevas hitting a three-pointer with five seconds left. The Lady Crusaders then forced a turnover, giving them a chance to tie or win. Shawnee State’s Sutton was called for an offensive foul on a potential game-tying layup, sealing the Bears’ victory.

Sherer led William Carey with 21 points, Garriga scored 15, and Cuevas finished with 11. The Lady Crusaders ended their season with a 24-6 overall record and a 12-5 conference mark.

Source: Original Article