Kennedy's late heroics not enough in one-point loss to Culver-Stockton
DUBUQUE, Iowa - In a game where the two combatants combined to shoot 37-for-116 (31.9%) from the field and commit 30 turnovers, it was a pair of late made shots that determined the outcome in a 49-48 loss for the Clarke University women's basketball team against Culver-Stockton College in the Kehl Center on Wednesday night.
Down 47-46 with the shot clock turned off in the fourth quarter, the Pride call the number of Zoe Kennedy who drove right and hit a contested layup with just under three seconds remaining to put the home crowd on their feet and give CU their own one-point lead at 48-47.
The Wildcats called their final timeout to advance the ball where they would inbound the ball to Avery Oetting on the right wing, where she then dribbled toward the baseline and attempt a fallaway jumper from about 15 feet that go in at the final buzzer sounded to give CSC the victory after video review confirmed the shot got off in time.
Kennedy led the game with 23 points on 10-of-18 (55.6%) shooting from the field while adding eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals on the night while Oetting produced less than her 16 points per game average with 11 points on 5-for-13 (38.5%) shooting from the field while grabbing five rebounds, dishing out two assists, and finishing with three steals along with hitting the game-winning shot.
Out of the rest of the players to see time on the floor on Wednesday, only three others produced double figures as CU's Hailey Walters scored 13 points including shooting 3-for-5 (60%) shooting from three point range, while Culver-Stockton's Keyara Baerga-Plumey and Nevaiah Bell-Tenner both scored 12 points for the visitors.
The defensive slugfest had neither team score over 16 points in a single quarter and the second quarter was a massive struggle for both sides as both teams shot the exact same from the field at 2-for-15 (13.3%) with the Wildcats committing five turnovers, Clarke turning the ball over four times with the difference in the 6-5 10-minute period being CSC hitting both of their free throw attempts while the Pride hit their long free throw attempt.
Clarke women's basketball will play their next two games on the road, first this Saturday, Jan. 24 when they travel to Oskloosa, Iowa when they face off against William Penn University for a scheduled 2:00 p.m. CT opening tip between the Pride and Statesmen.