CRC Runs Out of Gas Against UHSP

December 15, 2020

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Despite only having two players in the reserve on the bench, the Crowley's Ridge Lady Pioneers held the lead for a majority of their Tuesday contest with the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) Eutectics before running falling victim to a 21-point final quarter by the home team to fall 63-59.

Both teams had difficulty finding the hoop in the opening quarter, with Crowley's Ridge (1-4) shooting 5-17 from the floor, while UHSP went 6-16. The Lady Pioneers held the Euts at arm's length until a pair of late threes gave UHSP a 16-14 lead after ten minutes.

The shooting woes only got worse for the Eutectics, who only connected one field goal; however, a good showing at the free-throw line kept them in the game. Meanwhile, Kianna Hardaway found her stroke to give CRC a 26-24 lead at halftime. The Lady 'Neers outrebounded the Euts 25-17 in the first half.

After jumping ahead to a seven-point lead, the Lady Pioneers were bitten by the turnover bug, which the Eutectics took advantage of with three 3pt FGs to take a 42-40 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

UHSP never lost that lead, but not due to a lack of effort for the girls in green. After trailing by as many as eight on two different occasions, Octavia Lowery got the hot hand, scoring 14 points in the last quarter, pulling CRC within two with four seconds left. Unfortunately for the guests, Grace Beyer hit both of her bonus free-throws to shut the door in the Lady Pioneers' face with a 63-59 final.

The Lady Pioneers were led offensively by Octavia Lowery's 23 points, 12 of which were from long range. Nakeeva Brandon also completed her second consecutive contest in double-digits by bucketing 11.

Recording her first collegiate double-double, Kianna Hardaway was the third Lady Pioneer with two numbers in her points column, by collecting 10 points to compliment her 11 rebounds.

"In these first five games I have learned that I'm stronger and somewhat bigger than most of our opponents," the freshman Jonesboro native Hardway said. "My teammates tell me every game that I'm stronger than our opponents and [I] take advantage."

UP NEXT
The Lady Pioneers end the front half of their season on a sour note but will have a short time to shake it off. After celebrating Christmas and ringing in the new year, the Lady Pioneers will t travel to sunny Florida to have a rematch with the Pensacola Christian Lady Eagles. The ladies will tip off in the first game of 2021 on January 5th tipping off at 5 p.m.