| Trinity (Texas) couldn't close out on Hardin-Simmons Paris Parmer fast enough in the closing minute of Friday night's game. Photo by Scott Burkhalter |
No. 20 Christopher Newport and No. 14 Hardin-Simmons came up big late to beat Trinity (Texas) and Gettysburg in a full night of Division III basketball. Elsewhere Bethany Lutheran picked up a big win over No. 17 UW-Oshkosh and No. 16 Amherst appeared to be in mid-season form after a long layoff.
- Friday men's scoreboard
- Friday women's scoreboard
- Men's recap: Pios cap comeback while WIAC wows
- More headlines: Men | Women
Paris Parmer’s three-pointer with six seconds left lifted No. 14 Hardin-Simmons to a 65-63 victory over Trinity (Texas) in a nail biter where the largest lead for either team was six points. Trinity (1-2) took the lead 63-62 when Kelly Simmons stepped just inside the three-point arc and drilled a long jumper with 25 seconds left. Hardin-Simmons (3-0) brought the ball up and called timeout to set up its final play. The Cowgirls drove the lane to collapse the defense, then rotated the ball around the arc until it landed in Parmer’s hands for the game winner.
Parmer finished with 18 points on 7 for 23 shooting. Ashlyn Milton scored 16 for the Tigers who have played their first three games against ASC teams ranked or receiving votes in the preseason Top 25.
No. 20 Christopher Newport took a 12-point lead, lost it and came back to beat Gettysburg, 70-67. It looked like smooth sailing for the Captains when Jessica Foster’s three-pointer gave them a 57-45 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. But the Bullets ripped off a 13-1 run and tied the game at 58 with 4:55 left. The teams traded leads until Sondra Fan hit a three and Anaya Simmons added a layup that put Christopher Newport (3-0) ahead to stay.
Bethany Lutheran proved it’s got more than Geistfeld, as the Vikings upset No. 17 UW-Oshkosh 65-61 in the opening game of St. Benedict’s weekend event. All-American Hanna Geistfeld did score 17 points, but the Vikings also got 16 points and seven rebounds from Sara Kottke in a balanced offensive performance. Leah Porath scored 28 points for the Titans (2-1).
All-American Jenna Taylor opened her season with 22 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 6 Simpson rolled over Gustavus Adolphus, 85-61. The Storm outscored the Gusties 30-6 from three. Top-ranked Hope led 63-21 at the half and cruised past Edgewood, 104-59.
Playing its first game in 18 months, No. 16 Amherst looked like its stingy self, shutting down Oglethorpe, 53-36. The Mammoths held the Stormy Petrels (0-3) to single-digit scoring in three periods, including 1-for-10 shooting in the fourth quarter. Dani Valdez led Amherst with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
No. 19 DePauw came to life in the fourth quarter and rallied past Alma, 72-66. The Tigers scored 28 points in the final period after scoring 44 in the previous three, with Mya Shannon leading the way. She scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds for DePauw, which will face Calvin at Wilmington’s event tomorrow.
No. 6 Messiah shot 56 percent while holding Salisbury to 27 percent shooting, and that was the difference in the Falcons’ 53-44 season-opening win over Salisbury. The battle between All-Americans was largely a draw with Messiah’s Leah Springer tallying eight points, seven rebounds and six assists and Salisbury’s Kaylee Otlowski countering with 11 points and five steals.
UW-Platteville got a double-double from starter Maiah Domask (14 points, 13 rebounds) and another from reserve Sarah Mueller (17 points, 10 rebounds), and the Pioneers knocked off Bethel, 61-57.