By Dillon Flanigan
Sports Editor
Guard Jillian Martin, a graduate, dribbles around a Purple Knight.
If you were not at James Moore Field House on Saturday Feb. 1, you missed an emotional rollercoaster of a game.
The Women’s Basketball team lost 80-79 in double overtime against the Purble Knights of Saint Michael’s College.
Down by one with 2.9 seconds left in the second overtime period, Head Coach Kate Lynch called a timeout to talk it over where she decided to give guard Hope Fox, a junior, the ball for one last ditch effort. Fox broke down the options accessible to Lynch, who was unavailable to speak postgame.
“We had two options we could go with. Coach thought maybe at the end, if I’m driving, kick it out, draw a foul or just get a layup,” Fox said. “So, I appreciate them trusting in me, I guess it just wasn’t my day.”
The loss came with eventful cheers and critiquing boos from fans, team personnel and event staff as the shot nearly missed. The officials were escorted throughout the building as they made several foul calls, that went against the Owls causing the uproar.
An obvious disappointment for the Owls as they were a favorite at the tip and beat them on the road back in November by double digits. Yet, the result was just a glimpse of the contest. After a hard takeoff, the offense ran through guard Delaney Haines for the majority of the second half.
With 31 points in the box score, scoring only eight in the first half, while finding separation, her performance was highlighted by an off-balance game-tying three pointer to send the game into its first overtime period at 59 apiece.
“Yeah, we ran a different play for me to get a three off, but it broke down,” Haines said. “I just tried to get some space and threw it up there, praying it went in and went off the glass.”
A fast pace, defensive-flustering attack in the first half faded after the break.
Concurrently, the Owls were not making shots as both teams ran into foul trouble. The Purple Knights lost Ruby Santos as forward Katie Williamson, a graduate, who was honored for scoring 1,000 career points pregame, both fouled out.
With the absence of Williamson in the paint, the Owls relied on their flexibility to fill the gap.
Forwards Renza Milner, a senior, and Rheyna Steinauer, a junior, and guard Maya Henry, a junior, occupied the paint in place of Williamson.
“Obviously Katie’s a big part of what our team is. So, with her out, it caused a lot of people to come in, to step up,” Haines said. “Maya came in, did a great job on defense, Rheyna stepped it up on defense. Whoever comes in, we trust that they will get it done.”
