Grenadiers Fall to WVU Tech 97-91 in High-Scoring Contest

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - The IU Southeast women's basketball team fell 97-91 to WVU Tech in a high-scoring contest on Saturday.

WVU Tech opened the game on an 8-3 run, scoring eight straight points in just over two minutes of game action. The Grenadiers were able to cut the lead to three on several occasions, but WVU Tech extended it back to five at 14-9 to force an IUS timeout.

A Lauren Lambdin three cut the lead to 14-12, but WVU Tech scored five straight to extend their advantage to seven at 19-12.

Emmy Ralph scored eight straight points to give the Grenadiers a 20-19 advantage. Leah Miller connected on a pair of free throws, but WVU Tech closed the quarter with a three to send the game into the second quarter tied at 22-22.

With the game tied at 30-30, WVU Tech scored five straight to take a 35-30 lead. The Golden Bears went on another run to extend their lead to 43-34.

An 8-2 run by IU Southeast cut the lead to 45-42 WVU Tech. The Golden Bears and Grenadiers each scored a bucket on their final possession of the second quarter, sending the game to the half with WVU Tech in front 47-44.

 Back-to-back threes by the Golden Bears made it 53-48, but IU Southeast scored six straight to jump in front 54-53. The two teams traded the lead back and forth for much of the third quarter, but WVU Tech closed the third on an 11-4 run to take a 68-62 lead into the fourth.

 A 7-2 run by IU Southeast to open the fourth quarter cut the WVU Tech lead to 70-69. The Golden Bears responded with five straight points to extend the lead to 75-69.

 IU Southeast did not back down, scoring six straight points to tie the game at 75-75. WVU Tech responded with seven straight points of their own to take an 82-75 lead.

 Back-to-back jumpers by Lauren Lambdin and Emmy Ralph cut the Golden Bears' lead to three, but WVU Tech answered with five straight to take an 87-79 lead with two minutes to go.

 Sierra Graham connected on back-to-back layups to cut the WVU Tech lead to 87-83 with 1:25 remaining. WVU Tech scored on the ensuing possession, taking an 89-83 lead with just under a minute to play.

 \WVU Tech converted three of four free throws on the next two possessions, but a Sierra Graham three cut the lead back to four at 92-88. The Golden Bears hit two more free throws, but a Lauren Lambdin three cut the lead to 94-91 with seven seconds left.

Two more free throws made it 96-91 WVU Tech, and after a missed Grenadier three, the Golden Bears went one for two from the line to secure a 97-91 victory.

Emmy Ralph led the Grenadiers with 29 points in her first start since Dec. 20. Ralph also dished out five assists, grabbed three rebounds, added three steals, and blocked two shots. Lauren Lambdin scored 24 points, dished out a team-high seven assists, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots, and added three steals.

Sierra Graham had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists for IU Southeast. Leah Miller added 12 points, and Alex Maher led the Grenadiers with 11 rebounds.

IU Southeast falls to 13-8 overall and 6-6 in RSC play. The Grenadiers return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Brescia.