Jeff Weseloh (SBU Sports Information) BOLIVAR, Mo. — The SBU Bearcats played a strong game as they defeated the defending NCAA D-II champion Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps 67-54. The win improves the Bearcats record to 5-1 on the season.
SBU opened up the game with a layup from Caylee Richardson on their first possession and followed it up with a steal and free-throw from Aliyah Isaac to take an early 3-0 lead. Alex Botkin found her way into the paint where she dished it off to Richardson to extend their lead to 6-2 with 7:39 remaining in the first quarter. Rosenbohm hit a 3-pointer to put the Bearcats up 5 (9-4) before Lubbock Christian went on a small run to cut the Bearcat lead to 9-8 with 5:27 left on the clock. Points fell for both teams but strong SBU defense and shots from Natalie O’Keefe and Madison Strong kept the Bearcat lead while Richardson’s free throws late in the first quarter sent the Bearcats into the second quarter up 15-11.
After Lubbock Christian opened up scoring for the second quarter, Rosenbohm connected on a jumper bringing the score to 18-12 with 8:41 left in the half. A layup by LCU set the Bearcats on a 6-0 run with shots from Morgan Henderson and Rosenbohm to push SBU further ahead 24-14. A small 4-0 run by Lubbock Christian was cut off by Strong’s 3-pointer via Mackenzie Skupa, followed quickly by layups from O’Keefe and Rosenbohm to give the Bearcats a 9 point lead (31-22) with 2:08 left in the first half. Despite late points from Lubbock Christian, SBU would keep their lead at 31-27 as they headed into the half.
Lubbock Christian again opened up scoring but the Bearcats responded with a solo 5-0 run from Isaac bringing the score to 36-29 only a couple minutes into the second half. Rosenbohm picked up a steal which she took all the way to the basket before O’Keefe connected on a jumper putting the score at 40-33. Shots continued to fall for the Bearcats as Skupa and O’Keefe both hit layups extending the SBU lead back up to 9 (44-35) with 3:38 left in the third quarter. Soon after, a solo 4-0 run by Rosenbohm pushed the Bearcats back to a double-digit lead at 48-35. The quarter was held scoreless over the next couple minutes before Lubbock Christian went on a 5-0 run to close out the quarter with SBU leading 48-40.
The 4th quarter started out slow with neither team scoring for the first couple minutes. After free-throws from LCU followed by free-throws by Skupa, SBU’s defense continued to hold Lubbock Christian scoreless well into the final quarter. LCU pulled back within 5 points, but a well-timed jumper by Isaac and free-throws from Skupa maintained a slim lead for the Bearcats at 53-47 with 5:02 left in the 4th quarter. A layup by Lubbock Christian sparked a 9-0 run for SBU as they extended their lead back into double-digits 62-49 with 2:23 on the clock. Fouls sent the Bearcats to the line where they were 5-6 extending the lead to 67-52 with 1:14 left in the game. Strong defense again held as the SBU Bearcats defeated the defending NCAA Division II champions 67-54.
Megan Rosenbohm had an outstanding game scoring a game high 25 points while going 10-10 from the free-throw line. Natalie O’Keefe contributed 9 points while Mackenzie Skupa added in another 7 points. Aliyah Isaac had a team high 6 rebounds to go with 8 points. As a team the Bearcats shot 52.5% from the field, 40.0% from behind the 3-point line, and 77.8% from the free-throw line.
The Bearcats will play at home on Saturday, December 3rd as they face off against Rogers State University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar, Missouri.
