Cold Shooting Dooms Spartans in Music City Classic Opener
Dec 29, 2017
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Dubuque women’s basketball team went cold in the second half and fell to Wesleyan University 66-54 in the team’s first game of the Music City Classic in Nasvhille.
Down 14-7 midway through 1st quarter after a quick five point run by Wesleyan, Allison Roach responded for UD, scoring five straight points of her own to make the score 14-12 before trailing 16-12 after the first. UD tied the score at 19-19 for the first time since the game began and after both teams traded baskets, Wesleyan led 23-21 with 5:26 before half. From that point on, the Spartans closed the second quarter on a 14-3 run to take a 35-26 lead into halftime. Lexi Daniels, who had only played in five games for a total of 34 minutes this season, played 12 minutes and scored 10 points in the first half and led the Spartans with 15 points for the game
In a defensive third quarter, Wesleyan started the quarter on a 15-0 run and the Spartans could not manage a basket for the opening seven minutes of the second half. Despite their offensive struggles in the third, UD only trailed 45-42 heading into the final quarter after holding Wesleyan scoreless over the last 2:30. Over the course of the fourth quarter, Wesleyan slowly built their lead to double digits at the halfway point and as many as 14 points with 2:10.
UD struggled shooting from the field on Friday afternoon, shooting 18-71 (25.4%) and especially in the second half where they went 7-34 (20.6), totaling only 18 points. However the Spartans were solid at the free throw line, making 11 of 15 for 73.3%. The Spartans bench scored 30 of the team’s 54 points. Cece Pope led the Spartans on the glass, hauling in nine rebounds and also co-lead the team in assists with Abbey Meyer, each dishing out three.
The Spartans play their second and final game of the Music City Classic tomorrow (12/30) at 5:00 p.m CST.
