Women's Basketball Unable to Extend Game Against Bryan

Athens, Tenn.- The schedule did not get easier for the women's basketball team. After facing the No. 1 team in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings in their last game, the Lady Bulldogs faced their rival and the No. 2 team in the standings, the Bryan College Lady Lions.

The opponents put TWU in a 5-0 hole to begin the game. Mikalee Martin's three-pointer began the climb out of the hole for the Lady Bulldogs. A layup and a pair of free throws by Yeika Jimenez Diaz along with a Jaci Powell jumper completed one of the climbs in the game, tying the score 9-9. Cambree Mayo's three-point basket gave the team their first lead of the game but Bryan scored six straight points to take a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.

Tennessee Wesleyan cut the lead down to one point two different times to begin the second quarter on Anna Crowder and Jimenez Diaz free throws. Jordan Wright gave the lead back to the Lady Bulldogs, making the score 18-17. The lead did not stay in favor of TWU, and near the midway point of the second quarter, the Lady Bulldogs cut the deficit to one after a Crowder free throw and Wright layup. The opponents ended the half on a 7-2 run, with Jimenez Diaz scoring for the home squad, to lead 29-23 at the intermission.

Out of the halftime break, Tennessee Wesleyan took the lead. A pair of free throws by Mayo along with a Martin three-pointer and Jimenez Diaz jump shot gave the Lady Bulldogs a 30-29 advantage. The next few possessions saw the lead change with Powell and Jacelyn Stone giving the team the lead on their scores. A pair of free throws by Stone broke a 35-35 tie, but four straight points by the Lady Lions gave them the final lead of the third quarter, a 39-37 score.

The scoring continued for Bryan to the tune of four more straight points, giving them a 43-37 lead a few minutes into the fourth quarter. Mayo's layup and Powell's three-pointer kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game, making the score 45-42 with 5:15 remaining in the game. Tennessee Wesleyan kept the score within three points with jumpers by Crowder and Wright, but with the score 49-46 after Wright's score, the opponents scored five straight points to take their largest lead of the game of eight points, with the score of 54-46. The score became a one-possession game three more times. Wright scored a layup to make the score 54-51, while back-to-back scores from Jimenez Diaz brought the team to within two at a 57-55 score. After an intentional foul resulting in one made free throw by the opponents, the shot to tie the game fell short for the Lady Bulldogs, giving Bryan a 58-55 victory.

Jimenez Diaz led the team with 14 points and eight rebounds while Jordan Wright added 11 points.

TWU (9-6, 7-6 AAC) goes back on the road for their next game action. The schedule takes the team to North Carolina for a conference contest against St. Andrews University on Saturday. The tip is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.