JACKSONVILLE – Captain clutch.
With 3:05 left in the game, the MacMurray College women's basketball team trailed Westminster College by nine points. Over the next three minutes, junior captain Alaina Vance scored seven of her 13 points – including two of the arguably biggest free throws of her career – lifting the Highlanders to a 66-64 upset win.
The win snaps a 23-game losing streak against the Blue Jays, with MacMurray's last win over WC coming on Jan. 6, 2007.
Highlander head coach Chad Harmon called a timeout with 3:07 left, right after Savanah Moore chased down an offensive rebound off a free throw. Moore scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win.
Out of the timeout, MacMurray ran an inbounds play for Vance, who knocked down a desperately needed 3-pointer off a pass from Alexis Doyle.
With the teams trading stops, Vance attempted another triple, this one coming with 2:14 on the clock. The junior rebounded her own miss, and was fouled on the put back, sending her to the line. Vance drained both free throws to put the Highlanders down by four with just over two minutes left.
At the other end, Westminster sank a pair of free throws to build their lead back up to four. But Vance answered again with a jumper. On the ensuing possession, the Blue Jays turned the ball over and Vance came up with the steal. It set up a game-typing layup by freshman Maddie Ashcraft. Ashcraft scored nine points off the bench while bringing down seven rebounds.
MacMurray got the stop they desperately needed as freshman Brookelynn Cardwell grabbed the defensive rebound. Cardwell tallied a career-high six boards in the win.
The Highlanders called timeout to advance the ball into their offensive half. MacMurray put the ball in the hands of Vance who drove and was fouled, setting up two free throws. The junior calmly sank both shots with 2.8 seconds on the clock.
Westminster called timeout to advance the ball and draw up a play, but Kallee Dowler's baseline jumper hit the back iron, unable to force overtime. Dowler led all scorers with 25 points.
MacMurray erased a seven-point halftime deficit while shooting an efficient 76.9 percent from the foul line. WC struggled from the charity stripe, finishing with a 13-of-20 mark.
Freshman Abby Stotler quietly scored 17 points, sinking 9-of-11 free throws.
"I'm beyond proud of these ladies," said Harmon. "They never stopped believing and battled until the end … They deserved this big-time win.
The Highlanders were also able to shut down the sharp-shooting from three from the Blue Jays early, who knocked down four triples in the opening quarter.
MacMurray concludes the first half of SLIAC play with a 5-11, 3-6 record. The Highlanders will hit the hardwood on Saturday at Fontbonne University for a 1 p.m. contest.