MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - The Millersville women's basketball team overcame a 19-point deficit early in the third quarter, coming within four points of Shepherd's lead. A 5-0 run in the final minute put the Rams ahead for good, defeating the Marauders 80-71.
Millersville falls to 5-11 overall and 2-9 in PSAC play. Shepherd improves to 12-6 overall and 6-5 in the PSAC.
Lauren Lister led the way with 22-points on 7-of-12 shooting. Olivia Mottern totaled 14 points of her own shooting 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and 4-of-14 from the field. Courtney Dimoff and Olivia Richardson added 13 points each. The duo combined for 11 buckets from the field and four from downtown.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
• Trailing by 17 with just three minutes to go in the third quarter, a Lister Layup started the Marauders on a 7-0 run that lasted until there was less than a minute remaining in the stanza. Lister, Dimoff and Mottern contributed to the run. Shepherd's Abby Beeman (21 points) stopped the bleeding with a layup with 54 seconds remaining.
• The fourth quarter was an even affair. The Marauders trailed by as many as 15, but cut the deficit to seven with 3:02 remaining following a pair of Lister free throws.
• Mottern kept Millersville's hopes alive by knocking down her third and final 3-pointer with 1:24 remaining in the contest. The bucket cut Shepherd's lead to 75-71.
• The Rams would not allow Millersville to get any closer. Beeman knocked down 3-of-4 free throws in the ensuing 58 seconds. Shepherd's Sydney Clayton hit her final two free throws of the game to give us the final score, 80-71.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Lauren Lister's 22 points was a game high. It's the junior's eighth consecutive game with at least 20 points.
• Freshman forward Olivia Richardson received her first career start, replacing Mia Leonard, who missed the game with an injury. Richardson responded with a career-high 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
• Courtney Dimoff and Olivia Mottern combined for 27 points on 9-of-24 shooting, including a 6-of-16 effort from 3-point range. The 27 points is the most the duo have combined for in conference play.
• Sophomore guard Erika Reed recorded 20:13 of game time, the most she's played since the opening game of the season vs. Glenville State. She recorded a season-high three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• The Marauders shot 9-of-21 from the 3-point line as a team, compared to a 3-of-13 effort for Shepherd. Millersville also forced 16 turnovers, while turning the ball over 14 times.
• Shepherd shot 51.6% as a team and snagged 15 offensive rebounds.
HEAD COACH MARY FLEIG QUOTES
• "We're not going to beat a lot of teams giving up 80 points. We are not an offense that's going to match that, so our defense has to play much better."
• "Our transition defense struggled today. We got beat down the floor several times and it cost us. We also have to give credit to them. Their point guard, Abby Beeman, was always making the right play."
• "I liked the way some of our girls stepped up today. Olivia Richardson has not been asked to play as much as she did today and I thought she really stepped up. I think the way some of our bench players stepped up will help us in the long run."
NOTES
• After winning the first nine matchups against Shepherd, Millersville has now lost the last two. They have given up at least 80 points in both games.
• The Rams were in control for most of the game, holding the lead for 37:43 of game time.
UP NEXT
• The Marauders hit the road for a matchup at Lock Haven on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The game will tip at 5:30 p.m.
