In a game that featured 13 lead changes and 12 ties, it was the Truman Bulldogs who remained perfect on the season after handing Missouri Western their first loss of the year 67-65 in the first game of the Lincoln (Mo.) University Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday night.
The Bulldogs will play Harris-Stowe (Mo.) State on Saturday afternoon.
Nicole Gloor (Overland Park, Kan., Blue Valley) and Amy Briggs (Lansing, Kan., Lansing) had 17 and 16 points respectfully as Truman (3-0) took their final lead with just over four minutes left to play on consecutive baskets by the duo.
A pair of free throws by Lanicia Lawrence, who had a game high 20 points, closed the Western (4-1) gap to just a point with 1:25 left by the junior transfer Briggs connected on her third three-pointer of the game with 55 seconds left to give Truman a 67-63 lead.
Heather Howard scored quickly to make it a two point game and Lawrence had a chance at the tie with a shot at the buzzer but it did not fall through and Truman picked up their third win in less than a week.
The Bulldogs shot 46% from the field with 6-of-11 from three. Truman was red hot in the second half hitting 51% of their shots and making 4-of-6 triples, including all three from Briggs.
Western shot nearly 50% for the game but were just 1-of-6 on three-point attempts.
The two teams will meet for the MIAA conference opener in two weeks in St. Joseph.
Courtesy Truman State University
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