Carroll Clutch as Eagles Take Down Bulldogs
Wilmore, Ky. - Asbury erased a 19 point first half deficit to beat Union College (Ky.) in overtime 88-86. Freshman Laura Carroll hit three free throws down the stretch to give the Eagles enough of a cushion to earn their first ever win over the Bulldogs.
Asbury (2-2) opened the season one week ago against Union down in Williamsburg and lost by 17, and things looked like they were headed to the same fate tonight. The Eagles fell behind by 19 points at 38-19 with 9:29 left in the first half, but closed the half on a 29-14 run to draw back to within four at 52-48. The second half picked up where the first ended as Asbury stopped sending Union to the line after the Bulldogs took 23 free throws in the first half, they only shot 14 the rest of the game.
Freshman Laura Carroll knocked down three free thows down the stretch to help the Eagles beat Union (Ky.) for the first time in program history.
Sophomore Courtney Albin (Hartford, Ky.) led the charge in the second half and finished with 25 points and five rebounds. The Eagles had several freshman step up to help the battle of the boards as Lakin Griffith pulled down a team high 13 to go along with 11 points for her first double-double. Keira Henderson also grabbed seven boards and scored five points. Two more freshmen were in double figures scoring as Chelsea Williams came off the bench to score 10 and Laura Carroll added 11.
Albin twice tied the game with less than one minute remaining in regulation and All-American Brooke Smith couldn't come up with the game winner on two chances with less than ten seconds remaining. Smith still ended up with game highs of 29 points and 16 rebounds. In the overtime frame both teams shot poorly, only making one field goal each, but Asbury knocked down key free throws. The Eagles hit five-of-six in the extra session as Union could only knock down three-of-seven.
Asbury did a lot of there damage from three-point range hitting nine-of-27 in the game as Albin, Williams, and Dorian Downs each hit two from deep. Asbury shot only 39.5% from the floor in the game but hit 19-of-21 from the free throw line. Union ended up only shooting 43% from the floor after hitting at a 61.5% clip in the first half. The Bulldogs also struggled at the line, hitting only 22-of-37 good for only a 59.5% rate.
Asbury will travel to Ohio this weekend to battle Mount Vernon Nazarene on Friday at 6:00 pm as part of a girls/guys double header. They will make the short trip to Miami University-Middletown on Saturday and play at 1:00 pm.
