Playing in their first game of the Transylvania Classic the Centre women's basketball team came from behind to win a close match over Baldwin-Wallace, 77-76, on Saturday, December 18 in Lexington, Ky. Centre improved to 6-3 overall with the win and they remained at 1-1 in the SCAC.
Neither team was able to pull away during the opening minutes of the game. Baldwin-Wallace finally built up a five point lead at the 10:30 mark of the first half after Amanda Schroeder hit a jumper to make it a 20-15 game.
The Colonels then went on a 7-2 run during the next 2:48 of action to regain the lead at 23-22. Junior Maggie Prewitt (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) scored four of the seven points during the run.
Schroeder hit a couple of free throws to give the Yellow Jackets the lead back. Baldwin-Wallace would extend their lead to nine points at the 3:24 mark after Megan Frisina hit a three point basket to make it a 34-25 game.
Centre was unable to cut into the Yellow Jacket lead during the remainder of the half and they went into the break down 38-30.
The Colonels shot 44% from the floor and 62.5% from the free throw line in the first half of play, while Baldwin-Wallace made 43.3% of their shots from the floor and they made all nine of their free throw attempts.
Centre opened up the second half of play by immediately cutting into the Yellow Jackets lead as senior Angela Tronzo (Bardstown, Ky.) converted on two jump shots to make it a 38-34 game.
Jessica Carpenter answered by making Baldwin-Wallace's next five points to push their lead back to nine points with 17:40 on the clock.
Junior Lauren Huter (Louisville, Ky.) then made one of two free throw attempts and Tronzo hit two more baskets for the Colonels to take the score to 43-39 with 16:29 remaining in the game.
The game would remain very close for the next few minutes and Centre pulled within one point with 13:18 to go in the game, as M. Prewitt made a layup and a free throw shot, but the Yellow Jackets were again able to build their lead back up.
Centre's defense then made several key stops, while the Colonels were able to go on an 11-0 run on the offense end of the court. M. Prewitt and Huter scored all 11 points for the Colonels during the run, as they built up a 61-55 lead with 5:46 on the clock.
The Colonels held onto the lead for the rest of the game, but the Yellow Jackets would not go down without a fight, hitting two three point baskets in the last 13 seconds of play to cut Centre's lead down to one point. Baldwin-Wallace also had the final shot of the game, but they were unable to make the three point attempt, as the Colonels won the game 77-76.
Centre finished the game shooting 50% from the floor and 83.3% from the free throw line. Baldwin-Wallace hit 41% of their shots from the floor and 90.5% of their free throw shots in the game.
M. Prewitt posted 27 points and Huter had 26 points for the Colonels in the win. Huter also recorded eight rebounds and four assists. Tronzo had two steals for Centre.
Schroeder led the way for Baldwin-Wallace in points with 19 and Catherine Spisak had 10 rebounds and three assists.
Centre will play against Muskingum College on day two of the Transylvania Classic on Sunday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
