SECOND HALF SURGE SENDS KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN TO 80-67 VICTORY OVER IU SOUTHEAST

NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought contest to Kentucky Christian 80-67 on Tuesday.

Leah Miller led the Grenadiers in scoring with 25 points while also playing all 40 minutes. Brynna Blackburn also played all 40 minutes, scoring 17 points in the contest. Lettie Nice posted another double-digit rebounding night, grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds.

IU Southeast (5-7) started the contest off strong, pulling out in front by as many as 10 points in the opening quarter. Brynna Blackburn and Leah Miller combined to score 15 of IU Southeast's 20 first-quarter points, staking the Grenadiers to a 20-12 lead after one.

The Grenadiers scored the first two baskets of the second quarter, extending their lead to 12. Kentucky Christian kept fighting back, narrowing the IU Southeast lead to six points on multiple occasions. Leah Miller scored eight points in the quarter, bringing her first half point total to 14. The Grenadiers led at the half 33-27.

The third quarter started out rough for the Grenadiers as Kentucky Christian scored four points on the first possession of the second half. A technical foul was assessed to IU Southeast as the first half ended, which gave Kentucky Christian two technical free throws and possession of the ball to start the third quarter. After going one of two from the free throw line, Kentucky Christian hit a three pointer to bring the Knights within one. Another made three-point basket gave the Knights their first lead of the contest.

IU Southeast responded with a three pointer by Macy Robbins to put the Grenadiers in front once again, but the Kentucky Christian offense began to find its groove. After the IU Southeast made three, the Knights answered with a 10-0 run to take an eight-point advantage. The Knights led by as many as 10 in the third and took a 55-50 lead into the fourth quarter.

A pair of Maddie Knight free throws brought the IU Southeast deficit to just four in the first couple minutes of the final quarter, but Kentucky Christian responded by going on an 11-0 run to extend their lead to 15. A three-pointer by Leah Miller brought the Grenadiers to within nine with 2:32 to go, but ultimately it was not enough as Kentucky Christian went on to win 80-67.

IU Southeast shot 37.1 percent from the field, 9-25 from behind the arc and 12-15 from the free throw line. Kentucky Christian shot 50 percent from the field and 9-19 from three, seven of which came in the second half.  

The Grenadiers host IU Kokomo on Saturday.