Box Score | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- With just 7.7 seconds left on the clock, it looked as if SBU and Central Missouri were headed to overtime, and that head coach J.C. Carter would get five more minutes to try and earn his first win over the Jennies. Senior guard Ashleigh Gallio had just hit the shot of the night, a left-handed, leaning bank shot on one foot that had tied the game at 61-61. Central Missouri had one more chance, however, which they used to break the Bearcat press and draw a foul with just one second on the clock. UCM's Nicole Caddell hit both free throws, and the Jennies edged the 'Cats in the final second, 63-61.

Back-to-back threes gave SBU an early lead, as Chasity Prince and Courtney Heady both hit shots from deep to give the 'Cats a quick 6-0 lead. SBU held an edge throughout most of the first ten minutes of the game, when Central Missouri went on an 11-0 run that brought them back from a three point deficit to an eight point advantage, highlighted by UCM's Taylor Hanson scoring six points during the four-minute stretch.

The Bearcats would head into the locker room down seven, but would come back to tie the game, with Prince and Heady matching their first-half feat with back-to-back three-pointers. The Jennies wouldn't see the lead again until 2:48 left in the second half, when Caddell's layup gave them a 56-55 edge. SBU hung with Central, and Gallio's unorthodox three-pointer tied the game.

"We came out a little flat in the first half," said Carter after the game. "Our defense looked pretty good, though, and Whitney [Malone] had a great night rebounding." The senior from Atoka, Tenn. brought down 15 boards, five more than her previous career high of ten, which she had two weeks ago against Missouri Baptist. The Bearcats out-rebounded their opponent for the first time this season, by a 42-37 margin over Central Missouri. Malone's 15 boards are the most by a Bearcat since 2008.

Heady led the Bearcats with 11 points off 4-of-13 shooting, and 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. Freshman Jacqui Zelenka scored seven points in the first game since her 6-of-6 performance against Central Methodist a week ago. Prince finished with seven points as well, hitting a pair of threes and a free throw. LaKendra Smith and Kourtni Williams led the SBU bench with nine points apiece.

With the loss, SBU falls to 3-2 on the year, and starts off the MIAA schedule at 0-1. The 'Cats are back in action this Saturday, December 4, with a road trip to Jefferson City, to take on the MIAA's newest member, Lincoln. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.