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FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- With a slightly larger target on its
collective back as the No. 3 team in the NAIA Top 25, the
University of Saint Francis women's basketball team finally
survived 71-64 hold off No. 31 Taylor University on Wednesday
night.
The
Lady Cougars improve to 5-0 in Mid-Central Conference play and
16-3 overall. Earlier in the day, the first 2007 NAIA Division
II Top 25 was released and USF moved up to No. 3 from No. 4.
Senior Chivonn Keppeler led USF with 19 points, 11 in the
second half, while Toni Burney added 13 points to help USF win
its 23rd consecutive home game. USF coach Gary Andrews felt
Keppeler made the play that gave his team control, though the
Lady Trojans never gave up.
"Chivonn's
3-point play when we were only up two was probably the biggest
of many big plays for us," Andrews said. Keppeler muscled the
ball in after a pass from Burney, was fouled and converted the
free throw. USF led 62-57 with 2:44 to play. TU (12-6, 3-2 MCC)
cut the lead to four twice in the time remaining, but could
get no closer."
"I am
happy with the win," Andrews added. "We did some good things.
. . our defense was good at times and we did a good job
getting ball inside and running offense at times. Chivonn was
hard to guard and scored 19 points in 17 minutes. Marie did a
real good job on (Katie) Madden and yet she scored, too.
"Taylor's guards can shoot from outside and then they have a
good post in Madden. They are a very balanced team and have a
lot of girls who can score."
Andrews felt USF's defense made the difference down the
stretch.
"They
average 77 points a game and we held them to 64," Andrews
said. "We did a good job getting pressure on the ball once we
went man-to-man. Marie didn't let Madden get many good or easy
looks."
After the eighth tie of the game at 55 with 4:16, the Lady
Cougars took the lead for good and slowly built their
advantage against the scrappy, determined Lady Trojans. Nikki
Lewis connected on a pair of free throws at the 3:53 mark
putting USF up 57-55.
TU
led by as much 19-10 in the first half, but USF battled back
and led 30-29 at the half after Jessica Hathaway hit two free
throws with three seconds to play in the first half. TU led as
much as 36-32 with 17:55 to play, but Lewis gave USF the lead
with a free throw 38-37 with 14:24 to play and USF never
trailed again.
Amber Bond
led TU scoring with 20 points, 14 in the first half
USF
will return to action on January 6 hitting the road again for
a game at Marian College in Indianapolis. Tip-off is 1 p.m.
and the game can be heard on WSHY Sunny 106.3 starting at
12:45 p.m. with Joe Parson.
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GO USF -- |
