Charity Stripe Seals Win for Pioneers

Crowleys Ridge College 78

Campbellsville University- Harrodsburg 76

Charity Stripe Seals Win for Pioneers-Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 12-18-22

PARAGOULD, ARK.- The Pioneers of Crowley's Ridge College hosted the Pioneers of Campbellsville- Harrodsburg yesterday in their last matchup before the Christmas Holidays. Before the contest began, one thing was for certain, the Pioneers were destined to win. What determined the fate of the winner would be crucial free throws. With these late free throws, the home team would prevail, giving CRC a nail-biting victory.

Campbellsville- Harrodsburg jumped ahead 4-0 after quick trips up and down the floor. Hunter Gibson would get things going for CRC as she linked up with Brinley Morgan for the assist as Morgan's ball from behind the arc got the Pioneers on the board. In the very next possession Morgan regained the lead for the Pioneers by driving to the basket and laying one in of the glass, Pioneers lead 5-4. Octavia Lowery quickly made her presence known in the matchup by grabbing a quick 7 points by the end of the 1st quarter helping CRC lead 23-14.  Campbellsville- Harrodsburg opened the second quarter with their second 4-0 run of the game cutting the score to 23-18. Claire Bellers helped widen the gap for CRC as she rallied hitting two layups and one three-ball in the quarter. With just 8.3 seconds before the break, Alayzah Foster inbounded the ball and drove to the basket, getting off a last-second buzzer-beater bucket, giving the team in green a 40-32 lead. In the third quarter, the Pioneer attack put the pressure on the Campbellsville- Harrodsburg defense by sinking two balls from behind the arc from Sierrah Floyd, while Hunter Gibson and Lindsey Browning worked the paint. These three Pioneers combined for 15 points keeping the ever-chasing Campbellsville- Harrodsburg trailing 57-48. With 7:08 left in the game, Crowley's Ridge looked to coast to a win as they improved their lead to 14 points, with the help of a 5-0 run from Claire Bellers. Campbellsville- Harrodsburg dug deep and outscored the Pioneers with a 20-8 point run to end the game. With 38 seconds left the visitors made a free throw cutting the score to a 1-point CRC lead, 75-74. When the ball was inbounded Octavia Lowery drew the foul and stepped to the charity stripe making both shots giving CRC a three-point lead. CRC defense stepped up grabbing a critical defensive rebound off a missed 3-pt attempt from Campbellsville- Harrodsburg. Brinley Morgan would have the final touches as she was fouled on the rebound, by making one free throw increasing the lead to 4, 78-74 with 23 seconds on the clock. What would ensure the game for the Pioneers wouldn't be a free throw, 3-pointer, or a layup, but a timeout. After a key defensive steal by Brinley Morgan, a timeout was called from the CRC bench giving the CRC Pioneers the possession that they needed. When play resumed, Octavia Lowery wasted the remaining 4.3 seconds by avoiding the foul giving CRC the win, 78-76.

Leaders: 5 Pioneers ended the afternoon with double digits in points.

Claire Bellers led the Pioneers with 15 points, going 3-5 from three. Lindsey Browning posted 14 points and 9 rebounds. Brinley Morgan added 11 points and 5 rebounds. Alayzah Foster had 11 points with 7 assists. Hunter Gibson grabbed 10 points in the contest. 

Up Next:

WBB hosts Welch College at home on December, 30th at 5:00 pm.