#8 Lions Come Up Short At the Buzzer

JOPLIN, Mo. — Janae Droste missed a five-foot jumper just before the buzzer as Pensacola Christian College escaped with a 74-72 victory over Trinity Bible College in the first consolation semifinal game of the NCCAA Women's Division II National Basketball Championship at the Ozark Christian College Multipurpose Building.

Pensacola (17-13) led by eight, 72-64, with 1:05 left in the game following a Hannah Shipp free throw.

The Eagles missed only six free throws in the game, but five came in the final minute allowing Trinity (18-13) a chance to tie in the final four seconds.

Hannah Shipp's free throw with :28 seconds left made it 74-70 Pensacola.

Trinity's Lauren Fischer was fouled on a layup attempt and hit the first of two free throws with :15 seconds left. Jaylen Newman got the rebound off the miss free throw and was fouled with nine seconds left. She hit the first of two free throws and her miss on the second shot was rebounded by Droste that led to a timeout with :4.3 seconds left in the game.

Out of the timeout, the Lions set a play for Drost. She got the ball at the top of the key, drove the left side of the lane and her pull up jumper hit the side of the iron and bounced away as the buzzer sounded.

Junior guard Alyssa Loudermilk led Pensacola with 17 points. Shipp a 5-foot-9 senior guard, and Jessica Boyd, a 5-foot-7 freshman forward, both scored 16 for the Eagles. Freshman center Marlee grabbed 10 rebounds and scored eight points for Pensacola.

Trinity was led by 6-foot junior forward Jaylen Newman's 21 points and 10 rebounds. Droste, a 5-foot-7 senior guard from Ingalls, Kan., scored 19 points with 16 rebounds. SaraLi Peterson and Lauren Fischer added 11 each for the Lions.

Pensacola Christian will face the winner of the North Central University-Ozark Christian College game for fifth place Saturday at 3 p.m.

Trinity Bible will take on Ozark Christian College game for seventh place at 1 p.m. Saturday.