Sluggish Lady Rams ease by Wheeling Jesuit
SHEPHERDSTOWN— After shoving off the starting blocks with 14 of the game’s first 16 points, Shepherd slowed considerably in the game’s last 34:30 before escaping with a 60-53 win over last-place Wheeling Jesuit in a WVIAC women’s basketball game played on February 9 at the Butcher Center.
Shepherd lost its zest and bite after assuming a 14-2 lead over the visiting Cardinals (4-16 overall and 1-15 in their conference games). The Lady Rams (12-6 in the WVIAC and 14-9 in all games) were pulled back by the Cardinals because Shepherd made only 32 percent of its field goal attempts in the second half.
The 14-2 lead was still at 12 points (24-12) at the 5:31 mark of the first half. The longest lead of the half was at 32-17.
After Shepherd took a 37-21 lead with 17:30 to play, Wheeling Jesuit went on 16-6 scoring run to draw within 43-37 with 12:37 remaining. The Cards could have been even more threatening had they bettered a 19-for-55 (34.5 percent) showing from the floor.
With both teams experiencing shooting problems the scoring pace was slowed considerably. Shepherd’s precarious lead was at 53-48 with only five minutes left.
The closest the one-conference-win Cards came was at 55-53 with 2:10 showing. Shepherd survived on free throws from Emily Daniel and Priscilla Moseh.
Gabby Flinchum (5-for-8 shooting) and Jenn Prine (4-for-6) helped save the Lady Rams from the woes experienced by Katie Bigg (4-for-15) and Shelby Fayak (2-for-7).
Daniel claimed 10 rebounds as Shepherd made its 52-29 advantage on the boards definitive enough to win its sixth straight game.
