Box Score
The Lady Bruins came up short in their pursuit of a national title as the team lost in the quarterfinal round to #5 seeded Maranatha Baptist University on Thursday night in Ankeny, Iowa. Sarah Thomsen led the Bruins with 14 points while Sha'Ron Brunson scored 11 in the loss.
"This wasn't our best game and at this time of the year when you don't play your best game someone is going to make you pay," Bruins Head Coach Mike LeViere said. "The rebounding was the most dumbfounding thing to me. When you let a team outrebound you like we did tonight you are not going to be in too many games you play in. Still, we were able to stay in the game by playing great defense and forcing them into taking tough shots."
The Bruins entered the tournament with the #4 seed. This would be the first-ever meeting between the women's basketball teams for the Sabercats and the Bruins. Both teams came into the tournament having won their regions. A trip to the final four was on the line as the two teams took the court.
The Sabercats stormed out of the gate to build a 9-2 lead. The Bruins slowly began to chip away at the lead as they drove through the lane for points. With under a minute to go in the quarter, Madison Shupe knocked down a three point shot to tie the game at 12-12. The Sabercats were able to take the edge into the second quarter as they led 14-12 at the end of one.
In the second quarter, the two teams went back and forth exchanging the lead. With the Bruins trailing, Sarah Thomsen knocked down back to back three point shots to give the Bruins a 25-23 lead. But the Sabercats came right back with points of their own to regain the upperhand. Alexis Johnson scored a basket just before the end of the half to give the Sabercats a 35-34 lead at the break.
As the second half began, the Bruins got a boost from Sha'Ron Brunson as she scored five straight points to give the Bruins a 39-35 advantage. The Sabercats responded with an 11-2 run as the team was able to extend possessions and get second-chance points off offensive rebounds. MBU closed out the quarter strong as the Bruins trailed 51-46 with just one quarter to play.
In the final quarter, the Bruins came out looking to get back on top as Hannah Tompkins scored to cut into the lead. Kylee Leffew then scored a three-point play as the Bruins trailed 54-52. With under four minutes to play, both teams knew each possession would be that much more important. Hanna Glaze knocked down a shot from the outside, but Hannah Tompkins answered back with a three for the Bruins to tie the game at 59-59. The Sabercats would gain the lead again after a basket from Alexis Johnson, who finished the night with 22 points for MBU.
The Bruins had one more chance to try to even the score, but a three-point shot by Sydney Bedsaul bounced off the back of the rim as the Sabercats held on for the 63-59 victory.
"It's impressive to me what we have accomplished this season," Coach LeViere. "We had four players that were starters that dropped off over the course of the year and even had two players join us mid-season. For these players to do what they have done and to play the way they have is very impressive. This group has accomplished a lot considering what we've battled through this year."
Just two players scored in double figures for the Bruins on the night as the team shot 32% from the field. The key stat for the game was the rebounding margin as the Sabercats outrebounded the Bruins 49-20 throughout the game. With the loss, the Bruins will play in one final consolation game tomorrow morning. They will face the #6 seeded Pensacola Christian College Eagles after PCC fell to #3 seeded Randall University.
