Late free throws key to victory in road win over TMU

CLEVELAND, Ga. (Nov. 8, 2022) - The Point University women's basketball team returned to action Tuesday evening in Cleveland , Georgia for their Appalachian Athletic Conference game versus Truett McConnell and came out victorious 68-63.

Both teams played each other very close on the defensive side of the ball from the opening tip. Starting with the first shot made by Sheyvonne Owens, assist by Marta Gimenez with 9:39 left in the first quarter to the second bucket made by Marta Gimenez at the 7:11 mark really told us that we would be in store for a defensive battle. After the Bears responded down 6-3, with two made free throws by Camilla Callihan, the Skyhawks went on a 7-0 run. A jump shot by Ananda Hughley, a three from Marta Gimenez and a layup by Ky'Leo Worriels would give the Skyhawks a 13-5 leading that would cause TMU to take a 30 sec timeout. After a three from the Bears, Re'Tavia Floyd, the Skyhawks would go on another 7-0 run making the score 20-8 with 1:18 remaining in the first quarter. The Bears clawed their way back into the game with a 7-0 run of their own making it 20-15 at the end of the first quarter.

It would take the Skyhawks some time getting their first basket in the second quarter, when Mirial Cannon made a jump shot to make it 22-15 with 7:41 remaining in the first half. Layups by the Bears Sydnie Smith and Alysee Dobbs, followed by a three pointer from Re'Tavia Floyd, would make it a tie ballgame at 22-22 with 5:38 left. The Bears would finally take the lead at 4:36 on a layup, but would see the Skyhawks Miral Cannon hit a three pointer and help push the lead back in favor of Point at 25-24. After back to back made free throws by the Skyhawks Dominique Cooke, the Lady Skyhawks would head to the locker room ahead, 35-30 over TMU.

The Bears would come out of the locker room with back to back layups by Alysee Dobbs to cut the Skyhawks lead to 1 point at 35-34. Point responded with a layup by Mataea Boyd and 2 made free throws by Mirial Cannon to make it 39-34 in favor of Point with 7:04 remaining in the third quarter. Both teams went back and forth with shots that missed their mark until the Bears made a three pointer by Tia Shelton, assist by Camilla to make it a 39-37 game at the 3:39 mark. Ky'Leo Worriels got a defensive rebound and went down the court and made a jump shot. After that, Worriels followed it up with another rebound and after a offensive rebound from Marta Gimenez, Ky'Leo Worriels made another jump shot to push the lead to 43-37 with 1:59 left in the quarter. Kyra Hart would come up big with a jump shot and three pointer, to end the half at 48-39 in favor of the Point.

TMU hits a three pointer on their first possession to make it 48-42. Ky'Leo Worriels would make a layup, but would get foul during the play, which would send her to the free throw line. Worriels would make her lone free throw and make the score 51-42. At the 4:16 mark in the game, the Bears had tied the contest up at 56-56 on a layup by Alysee Dobbs. Worriels would work her magic in the paint, getting to layups to give the Skyhawks a four point lead at 60-56 at the 3:00 mark. After a layup by the Bears, Marta Gimenez would be fouled by Sydnie Smith. Gimenez would drain both of her free throws, making it 62-58 with 1:29 left. Another foul by Sydnie Smith, would have Gimenez sent to the charity stripe again with the same result. The score was 64-58 after both free throws were made. After a timeout by TMU, a quick Bears foul would send Mirial Cannon to the charity stripe. She would made both her shots and push the lead to 66-58. Foul by Point would see the Bears get Re'Tavia Floyd to the line where she would make both and cut the lead to six. The Bears would get to the line after a Skyhawk foul by Mirial Cannon, which would have TMU's Natalie Nixon shooting two free throws. She would go 1-2 at the line, make it 66-61 with five seconds left in the game. The Bears in desperation mode, fouled Marta Gimenez again and just like before, she was automatic, making it 68-61. The Bears got one last shot to make the game a little closer with a late foul call at the end of the game on Point. This would send Alysee Dobbs to the line and she made both of her free throws to make it 68-63. The Point Skyhawks with being almost perfect from the charity stripe (16-17 free throws) was the difference in this contest.

In the Box

Ky'Leo Worriels filled up the stats sheet with a double-double on the night with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Mirial Cannon finished with 14 points and Mataea Boyd finished with 12 points on the night. Coming up big from the charity stripe was Marta Gimenez who was 6 for 6 with free throws and finished up with 8 points on the night.

Up next 

Point will return to action back home in an AAC matchup against Montreat on Saturday, Nov. 12, starting at 2:00 P.M.