The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College basketball team poses with the Clabber Girl Trophy after a 56-54 victory over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women’s basketball team took the 56-54 victory over cross-town rival Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the annual Clabber Girl Trophy Game at Rose-Hulman on Tuesday. The Clabber Girl record for the two teams stands at 12-5.
The game began slow for both teams, with the Pomeroys not scoring in the first 4 minutes, but was able to maintain a 3-point lead at the half.
The Woods extended its lead to 29-16 early in the second half, due to a 10-2 run. The game then became a back and forth exchange of points over the next 9 minutes. The Pomeroys were up 42-32 at the midway point in the second half, then Rose began their comeback, scoring 7 points on the next 2 possessions, cutting the Pomeroy lead to only 3 points with less than 6 minutes remaining.
Jenni McLeish (Clinton, Ind.) hit a 3 pointer down the stretch, to give the Pomeroys a 50-41 lead, but the Engineers weren’t done yet. Rose-Hulman’s Marsh scored their next 10 points to get within three points at 54-51 with 17.2 seconds left. Brittney Shaner (Greenwood, Ind.) hit a free throw to put SMWC ahead by four points with 15 seconds left, then Rose-Hulman’s Meadows drained her second 3 pointer with 5.1 seconds, slicing the SMWC lead to 55-54. In a close battle for bragging rights, Brooke Brown (Centerville, Ohio) hit 1 of 2 free throws with 3 seconds remaining, and Jordan Barton (Indianapolis, Ind.) stole the ball as time ran out and the Pomeroys enjoyed a time of relief and celebration.
According to the Terre Haute Tribune Star, SMWC Coach Deanna Bradley said, “We’re having trouble maintaining a lead for some reason.” She added, “Anybody you’re playing, if you don’t take control of a game you put [your opponent] in a position to win. They didn’t take control, we didn’t take control. So either team could have come out on top.”
The win boosts the Pomeroys to a 6-2 record on the season. SMWC travels to Indiana Tech on Friday.