The Truman women’s basketball team clinched a berth in the MIAA postseason tournament for the first time since 2008 behind a blistering second-half performance at Lincoln (Mo.) University, pulling away in the final 20 minutes for a 68-44 victory.
Coupled with Fort Hays State’s loss at Pittsburg State on Wednesday evening, the Bulldogs moved a game ahead of the Tigers, and, by virtue of their season-sweep of FHSU, earned a spot in the eight-team field in Kansas City.
The Bulldogs will be either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed based on Saturday’s outcome on Senior Day against Central Missouri.
The Bulldogs (12-13, 10-11 MIAA) started the game 3-for-14 from the field in a 9-9 start through the first ten minutes. Truman was able to spread the game out, pushing the tempo to a 21-12 lead with 5:19 to play in the half, but LU chipped away, rattling off a 15-4 run to take a 27-25 lead with seven seconds left.
However, following a Truman timeout, Amy Galey went coast-to-coast and put one in off the glass as time expired to send the teams tied to the break at 27.
Truman carried that buzzer-beating momentum into the second half, outscoring the Blue Tigers, 41-17, and shooting a blazing 63% from the floor to pull away.
Coupled with the hot shooting, the Bulldogs held LU to just 33% from the floor and forced an additional 14 turnovers to open up the floor for eight fast break points.
Jennifer Conway scored 15 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Jenny Dorman added a career-high 14 points off the bench to pace the ’Dogs offensively.
Breanna Daniels joined the duo in double-figures with ten and pulled down a team-high six rebounds.
For the game, Truman shot 51% (29-for-57) from the floor and went 6-for-15 from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs also yanked down 16 offensive rebounds and forced 23 Blue Tiger turnovers, getting 20 points off of the LU miscues.
Truman returns to action on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm against Central Missouri (15-12, 11-10 MIAA).
Courtesy Truman State University
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