Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich.-- On Saturday afternoon
Julia Tierman led the Bulldogs with 14 points off the bench and
Kiara Wernette scored 12 points and recorded five rebounds and four steals. However, it was not enough, as the Adrian College women's basketball team dropped its road MIAA matchup to the Kalamazoo Hornets 64-52 Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, the women's basketball team has clinched a MIAA tournament postseason berth for the third consecutive season.
Neither the Bulldogs, nor the Hornets would gain an advantage in the first quarter of play on Saturday. The women's basketball team would lead by as much as three, after a layup made by Wernette put the Bulldogs up 9-6 midway through the first quarter. However, the Hornets would respond, and closed out the first with a 5-0 run to take an 11-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second, the Bulldogs would battle back, opening the quarter with a quick 5-3 advantage after a made free throw by
Kylie Skidmore and a layup by
Kourtney Crawford,
Makayla Clement would time the game up at 14 all with a layup assisted by teammate Wernette. After exchanging buckets over the next few minutes, sharpshooting sophomore
Jordan Phillips nailed a three pointer with 2:42 remaining in the half to give the Bulldogs a 24-23 lead. However, the teams continued to remain in a near dead lock and Kalamazoo entered halftime up by one against the Bulldogs at 26-25.
In the third quarter, the battle for the lead raged on. With 6:14 remaining in the third, a made layup by Clement gave the Bulldogs a two-possession lead for the first time all afternoon. On the opposite end of the floor, Clement would continue her dominance on the court, blocking a Kalamazoo on the next possession. After a made layup by Kalamazoo with 4:05 remaining in the quarter, the Bulldogs would find themselves down one to the Hornets. The deficit did not last long. Six seconds later, Tierman stormed down the court and drilled a jumper to retain the Bulldog lead at 37-36. Over the final thirty seconds of the quarter, Skidmore and
Aubrie Ickes capitalized on free throws to tie the game up at 42 all heading into the last quarter of play.
During the first two minutes of the fourth, both teams would exchange buckets until Kalamazoo burst off to a nine to zero run, giving the Hornets a nine-point lead with 5:16 remaining in regulation. The Hornets would continue the scoring and would conclude the game on an extended 20-8 run. Tierman and Wernette closed out the game on a 6-0 run in the final two minutes of play after four free throws from Tierman and two from Wernette. However, the duo's efforts fell short, and the Bulldogs fell to the Hornets Saturday afternoon 64-52.
Top Dawgs
The Junior Tierman scored 14 points to lead the Bulldogs in the scoring department after shooting 5-11 from the field and 4-4 from the stripe. Additionally, the senior Wernette had a great all-around game, scoring 12 points, while recording five rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block in 27 minutes of action. This afternoon marked Wernette's fourth double-digit scoring outing in her last six games.
Jordan Phillips Three Point Made Tracker
During the first quarter of Saturday's matinee, both teams received punches, with neither the Bulldogs, nor the Hornets creating a maintainable lead. With her first shot of the game, junior
Jordan Phillips knocked down a three to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Phillips has now hit at least one three pointer in 14 of her past 15 games. With her three pointer, Phillips closed in on 15 made threes from entering the all-time three point made list, which she is projected to enter in the beginning phases of next season.
MIAA Tournament Berth Clinched
As the 2023 regular season winds down, the Bulldogs are tied for fifth place in the MIAA standings. Heading into this afternoon's matchup, the Bulldogs held a .5-game advantage over the Alma Scotts. With this afternoon's 64-52 loss, the women's basketball team is in a fifth-place tie with the Scotts. Both programs have two games remaining to battle for the fifth seed in the MIAA tournament.
Today Albion College defeated Saint Mary's 80-42 Saturday afternoon, dropping the Belles to 4-11 in conference play. Olivet also lost to Hope College, dropping thier conference record to 3-12. With Olivet and the Belles suffering defeats, the women's basketball team has clinched a postseason berth for its third consecutive season.
Up Next
On Wednesday, February 15, at 6:00 PM, the women's basketball team will square off with Hope College at Merillat Sport and Fitness Center for their final home contest of the regular season. The Bulldogs will conclude the 2022-23 season on the road Saturday, February 18 at 1:00 PM against Trine University.
