DANVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 4, 2016) – Despite an impressive second-half rally, the Sewanee women's basketball team could not complete the comeback as the Tigers opened Southern Athletic Association (SAA) play with a 64-59 loss at Centre, Sunday, inside Alumni Gymnasium.
The loss dropped Sewanee to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in SAA play. The host Colonels improved to 3-9 overall and are 1-0 in conference action.
The contest was close early in the first quarter. A three by Katie Wayne tied the game at 8-8 with 4:34 left. Unfortunately, Centre took advantage of a 9-0 scoring run to close the first quarter. Even after the break, the Colonels kept rolling.
Centre came out in the second quarter and extended its advantage to 20, 28-8, over the first four minutes. A traditional three-point play by freshman Bella Taylor temperately cut the Tigers deficit to 28-11. However, Centre responded with a three by Olivia Schad.
Sewanee eventually closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run.
Despite being down 14, 35-21, to start the third quarter, Sewanee outscored the Colonels 18-12 the next 10 minutes.
Down 45-28, a free throw by Taylor opened a 14-2 run the final 4:37 of the third to close the Sewanee gap to eight, 47-39, to start the fourth.
Centre opened the final quarter with a jumper from Paige Kellam. After a Centre layup by Abigail Stewart, senior Jamie Chauvin responded with a layup of her own. Sewanee pulled back to within single digits with 6:11 to play after a Haley McDonough layup.
After a three by Sue Kim and a layup by Taylor, Sewanee got to as close as one possession at 53-50 with 4:09 left.
However, Centre answered right back with five straight points. Alexis Guy then closed the game with three free throws to close out the scoring with under a minute to play.
Overall, Sewanee made 31.4 percent of its shots. Despite forcing the Colonels to 18 turnovers, the Colonels overcame their miscues with a 50.0 shooting percentage.
Individually, freshman Corey Caulder led Sewanee with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Wayne also played well with a career-high 18 points while Taylor added 10.
Guy had a game-high 23 points for Centre. The only other Colonel in double figures was Stewart with 14 to go along with 10 rebounds.
Sewanee returns to action with a 6:00 p.m. SAA contest against Hendrix, Friday. That contest will be played inside Juhan Gymnasium.
For more information on Sewanee Athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com. You can also check the Tigers out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr.