Asbury Holds Off Berea
Wilmore, Ky. - Asbury's women maintained their spot in the top half of the KIAC with a 62-56 win on Senior Day over Berea on Tuesday night. Sarah Yates was Asbury's lone senior and scored four points in her final regular season home game of the season.
Asbury (13-13, 6-6) continues to search for the first season over .500 in their 19-year history. Laura Carroll led a once-again balanced attack for the Eagles with 13 points. 10 players scored, but only Carroll was in double-figures although three other players scored at least eight points, Dorian Downs had nine, and Ellen Gray and Lakin Griffith added eight each.
The Eagles took a 30-24 halftime lead and pushed their lead to as much as 16 with six minutes left. Then Berea started pressuring full court and Asbury showed their youth with 10 of their 27 turnovers in the final six minutes that allowed the Lady Mountaineers to cut the lead to six. But Berea just were not able to rally all the way back as they shot 39% from the floor and only four-of-17 from three.
Asbury only shot 41% from the floor but were able to keep the driving lanes open by hitting seven-of-22 from long range. Dorian Downs knocked down three and Ellen Gray hit two of her own. They also made Berea pay by hitting 11-of-14 free throws including 10-of-12 in the second half. Asbury grabbed 39 rebounds led by Courtney Albin's nine, while Berea only pulled down 28.
The Eagles now sit in a tie for third place with Brescia at 6-6 in the conference each with one game left. Berea sits only one game ahead at 7-5. Asbury does not hold the tie-breaker over Berea nor Brescia nor the three-team tie-breaker. The Eagles need a win in their final KIAC match with Cincinnati Christian on Friday to assure themselves a top four seed and a host in the KIAC Opening Round. Asbury will step out of conference play as they travel to Transylvania University on Wednesday February 17th at 7:00 pm.
