MARYVILLE, Mo.- The Jets hit the road to face the Bearcats for the first time this season. Against Northwest Missouri, the Jets battled through four quarters, forcing overtime but fell short 82-76.
How it Happened:
-The Jets and Bearcats were even after the first quarter of play.
Paige Craft led the way with nine points while
Jaeden McMillin added seven points. The Jets shot a total of 66% from three to start off the game going 2-3. The Jets went 9-14 from the field in the quarter, 64% from the field in the quarter. The Jets had the lead for 1:13 of the first quarter.
-Out of the quarter break, the Beacats went on a 7-0 run through the first three minutes of the second quarter to take the lead at 29-22. This forced the Jets to take a timeout. Out of the timeout, Craft hit her 12th point to stop the run. The Bearcats scored on their next possession to keep the lead. The Bearcats then hit a three-pointer to extend their lead but
Layla Pierce hit a three to stay in stride with NW Missouri. The Bearcats and Jets continued to trade back and forth points. The Jets then put together a 7-0 run that made the game a one-point game with just over two minutes to play. The Jets held the Bearcats to just one more basket in the half. Heading into the halftime break, the Jets trailed by just two points at 38-36. Craft led with 14 points in the half going 6-7 from the field and 1-1 from the three. The Jets hot shooting continued into the second quarter where they shot 41% from the field and 42% from the three.
- The Jets came out of the halftime break with a 5-0 run that gave them the lead at 41-38. The Jets held their lead after McMillin hit a three-pointer to make it 44-40 in favor of the Jets. The Bearcats were able to tie the game at 44 under the six minute mark in the third quarter. The Bearcats took the one point with a free throw. A McMillin bucket then retook the lead. The Jets and Bearcats went back and forth for the remainder of the quarter. The Jets and Bearcats were tied at the end of the third, 52-52.
- To start the fourth quarter, the Bearcats took the lead out at 57-54. A basket by Pierce put the Jets back within one. The Bearcats continued to hold the lead by just a few points throughout the quarter. The Jets continued to battle, trying to chip away at the small Bearcats lead. With under five to play, a basket by Charlize WIlliams put the score at 66-64 in favor of the Jets. With under a minute to play, a basket by
Valeriya Lioukina tied the game at 68 all. Both teams had a shot to take the game in regulation. The Bearcats had the ball with under ten seconds left, but a huge defensive stop and steal by Craft and the Jets forced the game into overtime.
- In overtime, the Bearcats went on a 4-0 run to take them to 72-68 lead with three minutes remaining in the overtime. Though the Bearcats created a few point deficit, a three-pointer by Pierce followed by a Lioukina basket, the Jets pulled within one point at 74-73 with two minutes to play. The Bearcats were able to make their way to the free throw line, connecting with four in a row to take the 78-73 lead with a minute left. The Bearcats then earned two more at the 30 second mark to take their lead to seven points. With these free throws, the Bearcats closed out the game. The Jets would fall just short, 82-76.
Player Notes:
- McMillin led the way with 24 points going 8-16 from the field and 7-8 from the freethrow line. McMillin pulled down eight boards.
- Craft scored 16 points, going 7-9 from the field and 1-1 from the three-point line.
- Pierce added 15 points going 3-4 from the three and 5-8 from the floor.
The Jets wrap up regular season play at Missouri Western on Saturday with tip off at 1:30 PM.
