Bend but don't break: Eutectics find a way to edge out MoBap

ST. LOUIS, MO – UHSP withstood an what appeared to be a game-changing third quarter by Missouri Baptist, but found a way to come back in the fourth quarter and hang on to beat their former conference rivals for their first win of the young season, 74-72. Analyssa Maldonado poured in 24 points on 6-of-10 shooting to pace the way for the Eutectics. The win snapped a two-game skid for UHSP against MoBap.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 74, MISSOURI BAPTIST 72

• The Eutectics stormed out of the gate and leading 4-3 went on a 12-0 run to build their largest lead of the game at 16-3. The Spartans spent the rest of the quarter trying to cut into that deficit and had it down to six at 19-13 after one as Paula Puzule capped the period with a three.
• Puzule cut it to three to open the second and another triple from Madisyn Doran pulled MBU even at 21-all not even a minute into the second. UHSP managed to reclaim the lead and maintain a slim single-digit lead for the remainder of the half, leading 39-34.
• With 5:38 to go in the third, Missouri Baptist took their first lead of the game on a Jenna Plymale layin to make it 45-44. A Doran triple extended that lead all the way out to eight at 57-49 with 2:34 left. Aryanna Bull cut that deficit to one possession at 57-54 after three with a layup.
• Early in the fourth, MBU spread things back out to eight points with 5:41 left to go on a pair of Riley Jansen free throws. A pair of Alina Bowden layups cut it to one with 3:57 left at 68-67. With 1:23 left, Maldonado gave USHP the lead with a layup. Alina Bowden made it a three-point game with :42 remaining, but all MBU could get was a free throw the rest of the way.
• Aryanna Bull had 12 points and eight rebounds for UHSP. Alina Bowden and Reece Halley each added ten points.
• Paula Puzule led the Spartans with 16 points. She connected for five triples in the game. Jenna Plymale came off the bench to score 13 points for MBU and added 14 rebounds and three steals.
• Neither team shot it particularly well as Missouri Baptist was 23-for-69 (33.3%) and UHSP was 21-of-67 (31.3%).
• Free throws were a big help for the Eutectics despite they hit only 71.4% of them. The Euts were 25-of-35 while MBU was 16-for-21 (76.2%).
• UHSP came into the game 13^th in the nation in offensive rebounding with an average of 20.8 offensive boards per game and 25^th in total rebounding at 48.8 per game. They were just about on those numbers in this game with 47 total rebounds and 14 offensive. MoBap had 43 boards.
• The game featured just one tie and only two lead changes.
• The Spartans lead the all-time series 28-5. No longer conference foes, this will be the lone match of the season between the two who used to meet twice a season.

UP NEXT:

UHSP will be idle for over a week as they play their next five games on the road beginning with a trip to St. Mary of the Woods a week from Wednesday. The Eutectics (1-4) will visit the Pomeroys (0-3) on November 19 at 6:00p. UHSP will play a pair in Florida over Thanksgiving before their AMC opener at Central Baptist on December 6. A stop at Missouri Valley on December 11 will wrap up the road trip as they return home for a December 15 conference match with Mission.