Patriots shooting woes continue, playoff position remains in reach

The University’s women’s basketball team finds itself with a difficult hill to climb after suffering a 79-67 loss to The University of the Ozarks on Saturday.
Ozarks jumped out to a 19-12 lead by hitting three point shots on three consecutive possessions. The Eagles extended their lead to 15 later in the half on a 15-5 run.

Sabrina Goddard led the Eagles with eight points during the run, and shot 6-6 from the free throw line. The Patriots struggled from the floor throughout the first half, shooting 34 percent from the floor and 10 percent from behind the arc.

Paige Parrish, the Patriots’ leading scoring, played only six minutes of the opening half after picking up two early fouls, and the Patriots trailed 43-29 at halftime. The Patriots chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half.

Lauren Glasco, 35, dribbles through the key looking for an open shot against Ozarks forward Sabrina Goddard during Saturday’s game. Photo by Jessica Sibbing.

Lauren Glasco and Cookie Domino led an 11-4 run between minutes 16 and 11. Each had four points during the run, which cut the Eagles lead to five.

The Ozarks extended their lead back to 10 in the next three minutes, only to have it cut back to five. Domino made five of six free throws over three possessions. The Eagles answered by scoring on their next four possessions, making the score 71-57 with 4:12 left in regulation and all but ending game.

Goddard led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 10-10 from the free throw line. Alison Villines, Chelsea Glasscock and Ashley Teague all ended the game with double figures in points for the Eagles as well.

The Eagles shot 82.8 percent from the free throw line. Kayla Elizalde led the Patriots with 18 points. Glasco and Domino followed with 15 and 12 respectively.

Glasco and Domino recorded their first career double-double’s. The Patriots leading scorer, Parrish, scored a season low nine points. “Our energy was a little lackluster in the first half,” Patriots head coach Stasha Richards said. “Ozarks played hard and they played together, and I think that is something we need to look at.”

Richard’s squad is now 10-12 overall and 8-9 in American Southwest Conference play. As of Saturday afternoon the Patriots sit half a game behind East Texas Baptist for the final playoff spot in the ASC East Division. ETBU fell to Louisiana College and Mississippi College over the weekend.

The Patriots are scheduled to  play their final two regular season games at home this weekend, facing Louisiana College at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Mississippi College at 1 p.m. Saturday.