This one hurts; Eutectics see Owls complete incredible comeback

(Photo courtesy of Rodrigue Koutoglo)

ST. LOUIS, MO – A huge fourth quarter including a late 5-point sequence followed by a phrenetic overtime led to William Woods handing UHSP a 75-72 defeat. Sydney Booker had a double-double for the Owls with 22 points and 16 rebounds with 14 of her points coming after halftime.

The two clubs combined for 33 first quarter points as the Eutectics took a seven-point lead when Halley Reece hit a jumper with 2:10 left in the first to make it 15-8. The Owls stormed back to outscore the home club 8-2 the rest of the quarter thanks in part to a Layla Young three in the final minute as UHSP led 17-16 after the first period.

The Purple and Gold had a big second quarter outscoring WWU 21-12 as Jada Griggs scored seven off the bench to pace the Eutectics to a 38-28 advantage. At the half, UHSP was dominating in nearly every facet and had WWU visibly frustrated as the Owls headed to the locker-room. The Eutectics were shooting 38.2% to the Owls 25.8%, they had eight assists on 13 field goals and outrebounding William Woods 23-17.

To start the third, the Eutectics were able to avoid a letdown to the start of the second half. Instead they sprinted out to a game-high 16-point lead and seemed on their way to a seventh straight win over William Woods. Danaiyah Darnell and Alina Bowden drilled triples to begin the third quarter followed by a Montasia McCallister jumper as UHSP scored the first eight to open the period and led 46-30.  The Owls threatened a few times to close to within single digits, but a late McCallister three made the advantage 14 and the Purple and Gold took a 55-43 lead to the final quarter.

As much as William Woods wished for a better start to the third quarter, they got exactly what they wanted to begin the fourth. Jersee Wren, Booker and Kadence Gipson opened the final stanza with buckets and all of a sudden, a comfortable lead was down to two possessions at 55-49 with 7:35 to go. Another Booker layup cut the margin to 57-54 just 1:46 later. Over the first 7:35 of the fourth quarter, the Eutectics had scored just two points while the Owls had scored a dozen. It was 57-55 when Bowden drilled a huge three-pointer and less than a minute later Sara Hameed hit a tough running layup and it was 62-55 with 1:47 and the finish line was in sight for the Eutectics. After four straight free throws for WWU and a pair from Bowden, UHSP led 64-59 with :15 seconds left as the Owls took a timeout. Out of the stoppage, William Woods had a sequence reminiscent of Reggie Miller against the Knicks in the 1995 NBA Playoffs. Payton Dearing connected on a layup with :08 seconds left to cut the deficit to three, the Eutectics turned the in-bounds over as Mariah Prince got a steal and Katie Keilholz drilled a shot from distance in a frantic final seconds to send the game to overtime tied at 64-64.

In the extra session UHSP got the first point a free throw, but Prince gave William Woods their first lead at since 6-5 in the first quarter as the Owls took a 66-65 lead. Prince and Booker added baskets as the Owls were all of a sudden on top by five at 70-65 and the Eutectics were a bit rattled. But McCallister hit a basket and a free throw and Griggs buried a jumper with :52 seconds left as UHSP pulled back even at 70-70. It was 72-72 with :04.4 seconds left when Karsyn Morgan was able to poke the ball away from Dearing as she came across the top of the arc. In the scramble that ensued, Booker managed to come up with a loose ball and tried to force up a shot from near that foul line with :00.3 seconds left, but Hameed was called for a foul. UHSP Head Coach Markel Cox was infuriated that he was not granted a timeout in that final scramble thinking his group had gained possession long enough for one to be awarded and drew a technical foul which sent Booker to the line for four straight foul shots. The senior made three of those four and sent the Owls to an improbable win.

For the game, the Owls ended up shooting a little better than UHSP at 35.2% to 33.3%. UHSP was 9-for-24 (37.5%) from deep while WWU was 4-of-16 (25%). William Woods attempted 32 free throws making 21 while the Euts were just 11-of-15 from the line. Booker as the lone Owl in double figures while UHSP put four in double digits. McAllister had 15 points and six boards, Griggs had 13 points and five rebounds, Bowden finished with 11 points, eight boards and two steals and Hameed had ten points and three assists. India Atkins had nine points and six rebounds for the Owls while Mariah Prince had nine points, six boards and four steals.

A three-game conference homestand continues on Saturday for the Eutectics (1-6, 1-2 AMC) when they entertain Hannibal-LaGrange (3-6, 0-3 AMC) at the UHSP Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 1:00pm. The Eutectics have won five straight over the Trojans. Following that game, USHP hosts Missouri Baptist next Thursday before traveling to Williams Baptist on Saturday, December 14 to begin a four-game road trip that will take them into the new year.