Women's Basketball Escapes Alice Lloyd, Into Tuesday's Final
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – Asbury took control of the game just before halftime and never gave it back, although the outcome was far from certain in the closing seconds. Alice Lloyd failed to convert down one within the closing seconds as the Eagles prevailed 74-73 in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals on Monday. The championship game is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 pm.
Alice Lloyd took control early as the Eagles could not make a shot, but Asbury kept battling back and eventually took the lead at 34-33 with just 43 seconds left in the first half as Laura Carroll hit a jumper. The Eagles never gave up the lead again.
Trenia Barbee led the Eagles with 20 points, 14 in the second half and shot 8-of-17 from the floor. Barbee also led the squad with five assists. Alive Lloyd’s duo of Ariel Nickell and Carla Booth combined for 50 points and 25 rebounds but Booth’s runner in the final five seconds missed and the Eagles secured the rebound and the game.
Lakin Griffith recorded her fifth double-double of the season and the 29th of her career. Laura Carroll added 16 points, three assists and two steals. Asbury scored 20 points off the bench led by Dorian Downs and Ellie Steiner from long range. Both players scored all of their points from beyond the arc and connected on five of the team’s six three pointers in the game. Downs made three and Steiner made two, both in the first half to keep the game close.
Asbury shot 46-percent for the game including 50-percent in the second half. Alice Lloyd shot 41-percent in both halves. ALC dominated on the glass, pulling in 49 rebounds to Asbury’s 32. Alice Lloyd was only able to turn 16 offensive rebounds into 13 second chance points while the Eagles were more efficient, using seven rebounds to score 11 second chance points.
Asbury will play in the KIAC Tournament Championship for the second straight year and only the second time in school history. The Eagles lost last year’s title game 77-64 to Indiana Southeast.
The Eagles will play the winner of tonight’s second semifinal which pits top seeded Point Park against the tournament hosts, Indiana Southeast. IUS was the only lower seed to win in the quarterfinals, defeating Berea 55-52, earning their way back home.
Asbury split with both IUS and PPU during the season, winning at IUS and at home against PPU.
