Box Score The Bruins shooting struggles continued on Tuesday night as the team shot 29% from the field and 18% from three-point range in a 58-43 loss on the road against the Truett-McConnell College Bears. "This was by far the worst performance of our season," Coach Mike LeViere said. "I need to do a better job preparing our team. The way we played tonight we cannot repeat. Our team was not ready to play tonight and that was evidenced in how we played. Obviously we, I, have a lot of work to do."
The Bruins came into Tuesday's game having lost four of their last five games. Their opponent was looking to break a losing streak of their own as the Bears came into the game with a 1-10 record and an 8-game losing streak. The two teams met twice during the 2013-14 season with the Bruins capturing wins in both games. Both teams were ready to get back into the winning column as they took the court.
The two teams went back and forth in the early minutes trading baskets and the lead. The Bears then went on a 6-0 run to jump out to a 12-7 lead. From there, the Bruins used back to back three point shots from Maggi Ford and Kendra Jeffcott to take the lead. That was the last time the Bruins would lead in this game as the Bears began to rally behind the impressive offensive play of Anna Murr and the dominant post play of Rhande Haskett as the duo powered Truett-McConnell to a 24-19 lead at the break.
"We got outrebounded and we didn't compete for the ball," Coach LeViere said. "Even if our shooting isn't falling we have to play better defense and rebound and not turn the ball over like we did tonight. Doing those things will keep us in the game when we don't have a great night shooting."
In the second half, the Bruins tried to climb their way back into the game to take the lead but the Bears wouldn't allow it as an 8-0 run to start the second half gave TMC a commanding lead. The Bruins struggled to score as only one player finished the night in double-digits for points. The Bears led by as much as 22 in the second-half as the Bruins couldn't seem to stop them defensively. The final buzzer handed the Bruins their second straight loss in a 58-43 defeat.
"This is the worst game I have coached in a long time," Coach LeViere said. "To be down just 5 coming into the second half and get blown out like we did is not a good sign for us. We have to be able to compete through adversity. We did not make good decisions on offense and we let our emotions get the best of us."
Maggi Ford led the Bruins with 14 points. Kendra Jeffcott finished the night with 7 points and 10 rebounds. The Bruins lost the rebounding battle 46-29 and committed 13 turnovers on the night. With the loss, the team is now 3-9 on the season. The Bruins will be back in action on Thursday night as the team will welcome conference-opponent Emmanuel College to Greenville at 7 p.m.
