Skyhawks unable to move past Reinhardt in AAC matchup
WEST POINT, Ga. (Nov. 22, 2022) - The Point University women's basketball team returned to action on Tuesday afternoon at the West Point Gymnasium for an Appalachian Athletic Conference and fell to the Eagles 68-57.
The Skyhawks jumped on the board first after Mataea Boyd found Chinedu Nnadi open for an and-one layup. After a score from Reinhardt, Mirial Cannon returned the favor with a scored basket. Point continued to rally on offense as they scored the next two baskets to lead 9-4 until the Eagles retaliated with a made three-pointer to bring it to a two-point game. Reinhardt wiped away Point's lead after the basket scored an and-one to lead 10-9. The Eagles continued to add to their score as Julia Craft found Maria Sanchez in the post for the layup. Chinedu Nnadi stepped up for the Skyhawks with a scored three-point shot to bring Point's deficit to three. To end the quarter, Dominque Cooke found Mirial Cannon for the layup to bring the score to 15-14.
Sheyvonne Owens started the second quarter with a layup in the paint to put Point ahead by one until the Eagles responded with a basket to bring the score to 17-16. Both teams continued to trade baskets until Reinhardt forced a defensive stop and rallied with two three-pointers and a layup to extend the lead to 25-18. Mataea Boyd halted the run from Reinhardt with a layup to bring their deficit to five points with 5:16 left. Chinedu Nnadi helped Point cut into the Eagles' lead with a shot behind the arc to trail by two. As the half came to under two minutes, Point continued to find a way to cut into Reinhardt's lead after Destinee Ellison connected with Sheyvonne Owens for the layup. Two free throws made by Reinhardt on the next possession brought their lead back to four, but Ky'Leo Worriels sliced the Eagles' lead to three with one free made to bring the score to 30-27 going into the half.
The action picked up in the third quarter, with Reinhardt scoring their first basket in the first 20 seconds, followed by another possession with a layup. Point did not fall far behind as they were successful on their first three possessions of the half to trail 35-33. Ashley Woodroffe continued to lead Reinhardt as she made another basket for the Eagles to push them ahead by four. A free throw from Ky'Leo Worriels and a layup by Mataea Body brought the game to one until Reinhardt doubled down on their offensive attack for a quick 7-0 run. Boyd found Worriels in the post for the layup, followed by a three-point shot from Chinedu Nnadi to cut their deficit to three. Ananda Hughley struck gold with a scored basket to bring the score to 44-43 at the end of the third period.
Point took their first lead since the first quarter after a made layup from Mataea Boyd. Avanna Preston helped put Reinhardt back ahead with two made free throws to lead by one. Chinedu Nnadi continued to lead the way for Point as she scored the layup after the foul. Nnadi's converted free throw tied the game at 48 with 7:22 left. The Eagles responded on their next four offensive possessions with two made threes and two layups. With the Skyhawks trailing by eight points, Ananda Hughley found Chinedu Nnadi for the layup in the paint, but Reinhardt kept their foot on the gas as they scored the next two baskets to now lead by 10. As the game entered the final seconds, Reinhardt held on to their double-digit lead to move past Point with a final score of 68-57.
In the box
Chinedu Nnadi led the Skyhawks with 22 points, six rebounds and two assists. Mataea Boyd followed with nine points, nine assists, four steals and four rebounds. Ky'Leo Worriels led Point on the boards with eight and added two blocks.
Up next
The Skyhawks will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 30, for a road AAC matchup against Tennessee Wesleyan University starting at 5:30 P.M.