The first loss for the Highland women's basketball team this season came at the hands of the NJCAA DII defending National Champions the Kirkwood Eagles as the Scotties fell 77-74 in the Semifinals of the National tournament.
It was back and forth throughout the contest with each team going on runs throughout the game. Early Kirkwood opened the contest with an 8-2 start but behind three-pointers from
Niccolly Ramalho and
Blaize Burgess the Scotties tied the contest at 8-8 then took the lead on a
Berniezha Tidwell bucket and one going up 11-8. By the end of the first quarter the Scotties found themselves down 23-20 the lead changed hands multiple times in the second stanza and Highland posted a 21-16 quarter to lead 41-39 at intermission.
Highland continued to hold the lead fending off Kirkwood's advances in the third quarter and worked the lead up to nine points with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter as
Mariane De Caravalho drained a pair of three-pointers and
Sydney Brinlee knocked down bucket inside and got fouled making the free throw. By the end of the third quarter the Scotties led 62-57.
In the fourth quarter both Highland and Kirkwood held five point leads and the contest was 75-73 Kirkwood with 53.8 seconds remaining. After a free throw by Kirkwood the lead sat at three-points with 14.1 seconds left and Highland was fouled. Scotties made one of two free throws to make it 76-74 and then got a steal but misfired on a bucket at the rim and had to foul. Kirkwood made one of two free throws to make it 77-74 with 10.9 seconds left and the Scotties had the ball. Looking for a three-pointer to tie the game, the Scotties hoisted a three but it came up short and Kirkwood held on for the win 77-74.
In the loss the Scotties were led by Tidwell with 17 points and seven steals, while Caravalho netted 14 points and Burgess scored 15 points. Highland defense forced 22 Kirkwood turnovers but struggled from the floor shooting just 33.3%.
Highland moves to 34-1 on the season with the loss and will vie for third place at the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Harrison, Arkansas on Saturday, March 24th at 5:00pm taking on Mesa.
