PRESQUE ISLE, ME
The UMPI Women's team got right back to action as they hosted SUNY Delhi for a game that promised to be a close one. Though it ended as a nail biter, it was anything but that for a majority of the game. That was until a feisty UMPI comeback bid fell just a few plays short as the Owls dropped the close contest 60-57.
How it Happened:
The Owls did get off to another good start through the first three minutes. They led 7-1 which prompted a Delhi timeout. After said timeout everything seemed to change. The Broncos went on a 19-0 run until UMPI finally got back on the board with 21 seconds left in the first as Delhi won the quarter 20-9. UMPI started to find a few answers offensively in the second quarter but Delhi simply could not miss. Just when UMPI seemed to weather the storm, the Broncos would find a way to answer with a big play. Delhi grew their lead to as big as 17 points in the second quarter at 33-16, though the intensity both teams brought made it feel like a tight playoff game throughout. The Owls never rolled over on the game, and cut it to 13 at halftime though Delhi would win the second quarter 15-13.
It was a very similar theme in the third quarter with UMPI trying desperately to get a run going but Delhi squashing those hopes right after. The Broncos grew it to 17 again at 47-30 with 6:27 left in the third. With 2:05 left in the third, it was 50-36 Broncos. That's when things started to finally happen for the Owls. They closed out the quarter cutting it to single digits at 50-41.
At the start of the fourth, you could sense the Owls were one big shot away from changing the whole complexion. Camryn Ala delivered that shot with a huge right wing three to make it 50-44. The Owls continued to get stop after stop, as Delhi was way out of sorts on offense. They made it 50-46 with 6:29 to go. The Broncos finally got a point on the board with six minutes left ending the UMPI 10-0 run. But all they'd get was a free throw. Aleyah Matheson buried a triple to make it 51-49 with five minutes exactly left to play.
It would stay like that for another minute before Delhi finally posted their first field goal of the fourth quarter to make it 53-49. UMPI began to go cold at the worst time, as Delhi hit a three with 2:55 to go to make it a seven point lead. That's where it would stay until all the way under a minute. UMPI had to foul which sent them to the line again. Delhi made both and it was a nine-point 58-49 lead with 47 seconds left. At this point it would have taken a monumental effort just for UMPI to make it interesting. But that's exactly what they'd do.
A layup cut it back to seven, then a Delhi trip to the line was a split pair this time. The Owls scored two more again on their next trip up the floor to make it 59-53 with 20 seconds on the clock. Another split pairing made it 60-53. The Owls spent their second to last timeout with 14 seconds left, and drew up a beautiful play for Aleyah Matheson to bury an open three from the left wing. This kept the game going at 60-56 with 11 seconds left. Delhi then turned it over in the backcourt and UMPI had the basketball. Matheson knew she had to get another shot up and got hammered as she did, sending her to the line for three free throws with 2.4 seconds on the clock. Down by four however, put UMPI in a bit of a pickle. Matheson would have to make one or two, then miss intentionally. She made her second, and then missed the third, trying for UMPI to get a rebound and then a quick kick out to put up the tying three, but Delhi won the battle for the loose board.
The Owls fouled with one second left, but they were out of time outs. Delhi missed both free throws, but it didn't matter as the Owls didn't have enough time to outlet and get a heave off for the tie. The Owls did everything they could, fighting to the bitter end but still had a chance despite all odds.
Top Performers:
Lindsay Hamilton put together a career best game with 26 points. She added yet another double-double with 11 rebounds as well. Hamilton went 10-24 from the field and 6-9 from the line. Aleyah Matheson also had a great day with 24 points, six rebounds and six steals. Matheson went 8-18 shooting and added three treys. The duo of Hamilton and Matheson combined for 50 of UMPI's 57 points on the afternoon. Karen Marshall had eight boards while Nevaeh Bello and Camryn Ala had seven each.
Next Up:
UMPI will shake off the loss and get back to action with two very winnable contests on the road in Vermont at VTSU Lyndon and VTSU Johnson on Saturday and Sunday.
