ELKINS, W. Va — Urbana used two fourth-quarter scoring runs to edge Davis & Elkins 84-77 on Wednesday night in the McDonnell Center.
A back-and-forth first quarter showed the Blue Knights answering every Senator basket, with Urbana holding a 21-17 lead into the first break behind nine first quarter points from Tyra James, the MEC's leading scorer. Urbana would hold that lead until back-to-back threes from
Rachel Bolyard,
Allie Taylor, and a second make from Bolyard put D&E in front 30-28.
Jessica Eadsforth-Yates put the Senators in front with her second three of the game, but Urbana answered quickly to hold a 37-35 advantage with 2:36 left in the first half. Taylor's rim-rattling three pointer with seconds remaining tied the game at 40 going into the break.
The two teams went back and forth during the first five minutes of the third quarter but
Peyton Mohler put the Senators on top 53-50 with a three-pointer. D&E utilized poor shooting and undisciplined play by the Blue Knights to pull ahead, leading 60-54 at the third break. The Blue Knights struck back early in the fourth, using an 8-0 run to take the lead, before
Sydney Nestor eclipsed double figures with a game-tying layup.
Urbana would follow with a 7-0 run before Bolyard's fifth three-pointer of the game put the game within four with a minute to go, before Bailey Draughn's three-point play erased the Senators' basket, putting Urbana up seven with less than a minute remaining. Taylor notched her third three-pointer of the game, but foul shots late in the game closed the game out in the visitors' favor.
Five Senators finished in double figures, with Bolyard leading D&E with 16 points.
Jamiyah Johnson added 14 points and 20 rebounds, while the trio of Mohler, Taylor, and
Sydney Nestor all finished with 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Eadsforth-Yates and Nestor accounted for the first eight points of the game for D&E, and Mohler added three free throws to tie the game at 13 with 2:52 left in the first quarter.
- Bolyard's second three-pointer of the half made it a one point game midway through the second quarter, and Taylor put the Senators in front 27-25 with a long trey of her own.
- Taylor knotted the game at 40 with a three-pointer at the buzzer.
- After an even 10-10 split through the first part of the third quarter, the Senators worked to establish control of the boards, capitalizing on missed attempts by Urbana to take the lead.
- Following a technical foul, D&E made three three-pointers, and Nestor took a fast break layup to the hoop to give the Senators a 60-54 lead through three quarters.
- Urbana quickly went on an 8-0 run to take the lead, the two teams matched each other basket for basket late into the game, until a 7-0 stretch for the Blue Knights gave a late lead to the visitors.
GAME NOTES
- Despite a slow start, Johnson extended her double-double streak to 16 games, finishing with 14 points and 20 rebounds.
- James demonstrated her league-leading offensive prowess, scoring a game-high 34 points for Urbana on the night.
- Bolyard set a career high with 16 points, making five three-pointers, also setting a career high for the freshman.
UP NEXT
- Davis & Elkins will play their next two game on the road, heading to Ohio to take on Notre Dame College. Tip-off is set for 2:00 PM in South Euclid, Ohio.
