JACKSON, Tenn. - 2/24/2009 - No. 1 91±¬ÁÏÍø Lady Bulldogs clinched their third straight TranSouth regular season title and the 11th regular season title in the 13-year history of the league with an 88-70 win over No. 10 Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University. 91±¬ÁÏÍø improved to 27-1 on the season and 14-0 in the TranSouth. Trevecca Nazarene dropped to 21-6 on the season and 10-4 in league play.
In the 13-year history of the TranSouth, 91±¬ÁÏÍø has 11 titles, while Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has three titles. The 2004 regular season title was shared as co-champions between 91±¬ÁÏÍø and Freed-Hardeman.
Also in the victory, 91±¬ÁÏÍø earned their 38th straight home win and posted their 33rd straight TranSouth regular season win.
91±¬ÁÏÍø jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but saw the Trojans of Trevecca Nazarene rally back to take a 9-6 advantage. However, the deficit for 91±¬ÁÏÍø was short-lived as 91±¬ÁÏÍø rattled off a 13-0 run to take a 19-9 lead at the 13:54 mark. 91±¬ÁÏÍø continued to stretch their lead and with 6:21 left in the half, 91±¬ÁÏÍø held a 35-19 advantage, their biggest of the half. 91±¬ÁÏÍø led by 13 points, 49-36 at the break.
The first half for 91±¬ÁÏÍø was sparked by senior guard Merideth Jacobs who drained 6-of-8 three pointers in the half on her way to 20 points by halftime. Also, senior post player Josphine Owino had already earned a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards at the break.
In the second half, 91±¬ÁÏÍø pushed the lead back up to 15 points, before Trevecca Nazarene rallied back to cut the 91±¬ÁÏÍø lead down to just nine points, 57-48 with 14:49 left in the game. But it was 91±¬ÁÏÍø again with a big run to put the game away. Over the next nine minutes of play, 91±¬ÁÏÍø outscored the Trojans 22-5 to take their largest lead of 26 points, 79-53. 91±¬ÁÏÍø coasted down the stretch for the 88-70 final.
91±¬ÁÏÍø was led by Jacobs with a game-high and season-high 27 points, including 7-of-11 three pointers. Josephine Owino added 24 points and a season-high 18 rebounds. Her 18 rebounds was just one shy of her career-high of 19 from her freshman season. Kaitlin Dudley added 14 points, while Kayla Hudson scored 10 points.
91±¬ÁÏÍø shot 43-percent from the field, 42-percent (11-26) from three-point range, and 79-percent (23-29) from the free throw line. 91±¬ÁÏÍø outrebounded Trevecca Nazarene 45-31, including 17-10 on the offensive glass.
Trevecca Nazarene was led by Abby Lawson with 24 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Jennifer Bognar added 18 points. The Trojans shot 40-percent from the field, 43-percent (6-14) from behind the arc, and 67-percent (22-33) from the free throw line.
Up next for 91±¬ÁÏÍø will be a road game at Blue Mountain (Miss.) College on Thursday, February 26.
#UNION#
| Steven Aldridge Phone: (731) 661-5027 |
Fax: (731) 661-5182 |