Photo Courtesy of SSU Sports Information

Shawnee State’s Abby Ballman became the career leader in steals Thursday evening.

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SSU Sports Information

After suffering their first conference loss at Georgetown last Saturday, the 9th-ranked Shawnee State women (14-3, 5-1 MSC) rebounded with a 72-60 win at 20th-ranked Lindsey Wilson College (13-5, 2-3 MSC) on Thursday evening.

Senior Abby Ballman entered the game one steal shy of the SSU career steals record and crushed the record tallying seven steals in the contest. She now totals 343 career steals.

Shawnee State never trailed in the contest and built a lead early. Junior Alex Pohl dished the ball to sophomore Tabby McKinney for the first two points of the game. Lindsey Wilson tied it up on a basket by Ashley Rainey, but the Bears scored eight unanswered points to open up a 10-2 lead.

After exchanging points, Ashley Franklin pulled the Blue Raiders within 14-11 to the Bears, however Shawnee went on a 10-0 run and never looked back. Franklin cut the lead to six with a 3-pointer with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.

The Bears answered again on their next possession when McKinney found junior Catrice Mitchell for two points and junior transfer Schera Sampson scored on the next possession extending the Bears’ lead. McKinney hit one of two at the line and after a Blue Raider, sophomore Alannah Sheets capped off the Bears’ 9-0 run with a basket on the fast break to build Shawnee’s largest lead of the game, 40-25. The Bears held a 44-32 lead at the break.

To open the second half, Lindsey Wilson made a run to get back into the game. Rainey scored the Blue Raiders first five points of the half to cut Shawnee State’s lead to 44-37.

Pohl got the Bears rolling with a pair of free throws. Shawnee State maintained a three possession lead until the Blue Raiders made a run with less than 12 minutes to play.

Rainey started the rally with two free throws and Jasmine Brimm’s basket pulled Lindsey Wilson within five, 54-49. The Bears answered extending the lead back to nine, but the Blue Raiders pulled within five again with a basket in the paint by Rainey with 7:14 remaining.

With the score 58-53, Shawnee State put the dagger in the Blue Raiders with a 9-0 run to hold a 67-53 lead with 4:14 left to play. Lindsey Wilson could not recover to fall 72-60 to Shawnee State.

Four players scored double figures for the Bears. Sheets led the Bears’ with 17 points, while Pohl added 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Ballman scored 14 points and had seven steals in the contest. The senior entered the game with 336 career steals and broke the Bears’ record, which was held by Heather Schilling (337), at the 14:22 mark of the first half.

Sampson came off the bench to score a career-high 11 points and tally a career-high nine rebounds.

Rainey led all scorers with 34 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Brimm finished with 12 points.

Shawnee State went 25-for-52 from the field for 48 percent, while the Blue Raiders shot 45 percent. From beyond the arc, the Bears made six 3-pointers for 50 percent. Lindsey Wilson struggled from long range and missed all six attempts in the second half, shooting a dismal 15 percent in the game. At the line Shawnee State converted 16-of-26 attempts for 62 percent. Lindsey Wilson went 12-for-21 for 57 percent.

Shawnee State continues on the road traveling to 8th-ranked University of the Cumberlands today. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

No. 14 Lindsey Wilson too much for Bears

The Shawnee State men had a strong showing against 14th-ranked Lindsey Wilson College, but in the end the Blue Raiders were too much for the Bears as they won 85-78 Thursday evening.

Shawnee State falls to 7-9 on the season and 2-4 in the MSC, while Lindsey Wilson improves to 12-4 overall and 4-1 in conference action.

Lindsey Wilson built a 17-8 lead early, but the Bears battled back and went on a 12-2 run to capture the lead on a field goal by junior Ian Nixson. The Blue Raiders regained the lead but at the 7:19 mark of the first half, junior Mark Bryant’s basketball gave the Bears the 26-24 advantage.

LWC’s Josh White answered with a bucket but the Bears answered with another run. To start the Bears’ 6-0 run, Nixson found freshman Colin Kennedy for two. On the next possession Nixson scored in the paint and then he capped off the run hitting a pair of free throws, giving the Bears the 32-26 lead.

Lindsey Wilson answered with a 12-0 run of their own and the Bears ended their drought as Nixson drained a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left. LWC closed the half hitting 1-of-2 free throws to give the Blue Raiders the 39-35 advantage at the break.

The two teams opened the second half exchanging baskets and junior Tyler Boyles pulled the Bears within four, 45-41, as he scored on an assist by Nixson.

The Blue Raiders scored eight unanswered points to take a double-digit lead, 53-41. Lindsey Wilson continued to build their lead and captured their largest lead, 72-52, with 6:38 remaining in the game.

The Blue Raiders maintained their double-digit lead until the final two minutes when the Bears made their final run. Trailing 80-66 with 2:17 left, Shawnee State went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 80-73, but seven is as close as the Bears’ would get as Lindsey Wilson would hit free throws and go on to win 85-78.

Junior Tyler Morgan led all scorers with 21 points and 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. He also had three assists in the contest. Bryant added 19 points and nine rebounds, while Nixson finished with 17 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Shawnee State continues their road trip as they travel to the University of the Cumberlands today. Tip-off for the men’s game is set for 4 p.m.