High-Scoring Contest Sees Grenadiers Prevail 97-86 Over IU East

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - The IU Southeast women's basketball team scored 53 second-half points to defeat IU East 97-86 on Tuesday.

 IU Southeast used back-to-back baskets to take a 9-6 lead four minutes into the first quarter. IU East answered with five straight points to take an 11-9 advantage.

 IU East took a 17-15 lead, but the Grenadiers went on a 6-0 run to take a 21-17 lead. The Red Wolves used a 6-0 run of their own to take a 23-21 lead into the second quarter.

 The Grenadiers tied the game at 25-25 on two free throws by Emmy Ralph. A Karly Sweeney three-point play gave IU Southeast a 28-25 lead.

 The Red Wolves scored seven straight points to swing the game back in their favor at 32-28. After the two teams traded threes, back-to-back layups by Lauren Lambdin tied the game at 35-35.

 After an Emmy Ralph jumper cut the IU East lead to one at 40-39, IU East hit two straight jumpers to extend their lead to 44-39. An Emmy Ralph three narrowed the deficit to two, and a Leah Miller layup tied the game at 44-44 headed into halftime.

 Sierra Graham hit the first basket of the second half for IU Southeast, but IU East answered to tie the game once again. Back-to-back threes by IU Southeast gave the Grenadiers a 52-46 lead. IU East responded by scoring seven straight points to take a one point lead.

 A three-point play by Karly Sweeney and a layup by Emmy Ralph gave IU Southeast a 59-55 lead. IU East answered with a three, but the Grenadiers rattled off six straight to take a 65-58 lead. A three-pointer by IU East narrowed the IU Southeast lead to 65-61 headed into the fourth quarter.

 IU Southeast extended their lead to as many as six in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but IU East kept fighting. A layup by the Red Wolves cut the Grenadier lead to one at 74-73. An Alex Maher layup gave the Grenadiers a three-point lead, but IU East hit two free throws and a jumper to take a 77-76 lead.

 An Alex Maher layup and an Emmy Ralph three gave IU Southeast an 81-77 lead. The teams traded layups to make it 83-79 IU Southeast with 2:50 remaining.

Neither team scored until a layup by Alex Maher extended the Grenadier lead to 85-79 with 1:41 remaining. IU East cut it to four and started fouling. The Grenadiers went 12 of 14 from the free throw line in the final 90 seconds to secure a 97-86 victory.

 Emmy Ralph led the Grenadiers with 25 points and seven assists. Ralph also brought down eight rebounds, added two steals, and blocked one shot. Lauren Lambdin and Karly Sweeney both scored 16 points in the contest. Alex Maher recorded a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Leah Miller was the fifth Grenadier in double figures, scoring 13 points in the contest.

 IU Southeast moves to 18-8 overall and 11-6 in RSC play. The Grenadiers travel to Midway on Thursday for their final conference game of the regular season.