ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Ottawa University women's basketball team battled through four tightly contested quarters but was unable to overcome a strong fourth-quarter push by Missouri Baptist University, falling 67–59 Tuesday afternoon at the Petty SRC.
First Quarter
Missouri Baptist jumped out quickly behind an early three from Abigail Williams and controlled the tempo in the opening minutes. Ottawa struggled to find rhythm offensively but stayed within striking distance thanks to points in the paint from
Aaliyah Brown and
Molly Martin.
Late in the quarter,
Dominique Schutte knocked down a three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to tie the game at 14–14 heading into the second quarter.
Second Quarter
The second quarter featured multiple lead changes as both teams traded baskets. Schutte sparked Ottawa with a pair of baskets, including a three and a strong finish inside, giving the Braves their largest lead of the half at 23–17 midway through the period.
Missouri Baptist answered with timely three-point shooting, but
Miranda Patterson and
Kaelynn Duncan each hit key shots late to help Ottawa carry a slim 31–30 advantage into halftime.
Third Quarter
The Spartans came out of the locker room with renewed energy, scoring early and often in the paint. Despite buckets from
McKinley Kruger,
Clare Williams, and Duncan, Missouri Baptist used efficient shooting and second-chance opportunities to build momentum.
A late three by Duncan kept Ottawa within reach, but Missouri Baptist closed the quarter on top, leading 48–43 entering the final 10 minutes.
Fourth Quarter
Missouri Baptist opened the fourth quarter with an 11–0 run, stretching its lead to as many as 11 points. Ottawa responded with three-pointers from
Kiana Hostetler and Patterson, trimming the deficit to six with just over five minutes remaining.
The Braves continued to battle down the stretch, cutting the lead to four in the final two minutes, but Missouri Baptist converted at the free-throw line and limited Ottawa's final possessions to secure the 67–59 victory.
By the Numbers
Ottawa University Leaders
Ottawa shot 32.8 percent from the field (21-of-64) and 19.0 percent from three-point range (8-of-42). The Braves out rebounded Missouri Baptist 40–44 and scored 36 bench points.
Missouri Baptist Leaders
- Riley Jansen: 15 points
- Abigail Williams: 15 points
- Mariana Cubero: 9 points
Missouri Baptist finished the game shooting 39.7 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, while going 9-of-14 at the free-throw line.
Who is Next
The Braves (8-5, 3-4) return to the court on Saturday, Jan. 3 against Friends University in Wichita, Kan. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
