Women's Basketball drops hard fought 2OT game in final Florida game

(Daytona Beach, FL) - Fresh off the heels of another top-25 upset the Rochester Christian women's basketball team continued its play at the Daytona Beach Classic on Thursday afternoon. The Warriors matched up this time up against 7-5 Kansas Wesleyan. 

The Coyotes used a strong fourth quarter, outsourcing the Warriors 24-11 to push the game to overtime where they would prevail and win in the second overtime period. 

FIRST HALF

Ashley Loon started the game for the Warriors with an opening possession three as the teams started out battling right away. Kendal Zeiter would make a couple of layups and Samone Andrews hit a three and a layup to put RCU down 13-12 at the midway point in the first. Both offenses would start to slow down as the KWU offense put up a 5-0 run over the next four minutes before Jacey Somers broke the streak. The final RCU possession of the period had Kendal zeiter converting an "and-1" opportunity. 

Ashley Loon once again began the scoring with a layup and Kendal Zeiter hit a pair of free throws to draw the Warriors back to within a point. Another two and a half minute scoring drought would get broken by Lucy Freytag, followed by a Jacey Somers old-fashioned three point play to tie the game at 26. Amal Younes hit her first couple shots of the day over the next few minutes and an Loon three-ball put the Warriors up by two, until the Coyotes tied it up once again just before the half. 

SECOND HALF

The third quarter saw RCU outscore the Coyotes, 24-11, with Kendal Zeiter and Mylah Aalse leading the way with eight and seven points, respectively. Zeiter would score the first four points before Aalse and Samone Andrews got on the board. RCU's defense kept the pressure up with Jacey Somers adding to the score and making it a 12 point game. Aalse and Ashley Loon each added a three before the end of the quarter. 

The final quarter of regulation saw the opposite as KWU was able to outscore the Warriors 24-11. Jacey Somers and Samone Andrews would get the scoring started in the quarter with back-to-back buckets. The Coyotes would proceed to go on an 11-4 run, with Kendal Zeiter earning the four points. KWU was able to keep clawing their way back into the match mixing up a couple of shots and free throws, eventually tying the game at 68 with 44 seconds remaining. Both teams had a chance in the final seconds to take a lead, but would both miss three-point attempts. 

OVERTIME

KWU put up the first four points of the first OT period, before Ashley Loon hit a jumper and Amal Younestying it up with free throws. Jacey Somers and Mylah Aalse each would knock down free throws, but a Coyotes layup at the buzzer would send the teams to the second OT.

For the second straight period KWU recorded the first four points, with Jacey Somers and Samone Andrews scoring the first seven for RCU, putting them up by a point. Strong defense by both sides would limit shooting attempts in the final period and KWU would knock down a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to earn the win. 

TOP PERFORMERS

Five different Warriors produced double-figures in points as they were led by Kendal Zeiter with 22, while Jacey Somer scored 19 and Samone Andrews and Ashley Loon had 13 and 12, respectively. Amal Younes recorded five assists and Zeiter had four. 

Zeiter recorded another double-double, her fifth on the year, with 11 rebounds, while Ashley Loon and Mylah Aalse each had seven. Zeiter led the way with five steals and three blocks. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors are back in action following Christmas on December 27, taking on the #7-ranked Cougars from Saint Francis (IN).