KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Adams State Women's Basketball team got the 2018-19 seasons started with a double overtime affair against the Rockhurst University Hawks on Friday night. The Grizzlies and went back-and-forth throughout the game, but the Hawks ultimately picked up the win, 82-79.
Adams State (0-1) controlled nearly every facet of the game as four players scored in double figures, but Rockhurst (1-0) had late shots and free throws fall in their favor as they held off the Grizzlies in two overtimes to start the 2018-19 season.
The Grizzlies and Hawks both came out with solid defense to start as the game was deadlocked at a 2-2 tie for nearly the five minutes to open the first quarter. A triple by Hawks at 5:40 mark gave them a 5-2 lead but back-to-back jumpers from
Ki'asha Harris and
Stephanie Ruiz, respectively, gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the night at 6-5 with 3:36 to play in the opening quarter.
Adams State added two more points in the first quarter, but Rockhurst closed out the frame on a 6-2 run to lead 11-8 going into the second. After solid defense paced the first quarter's action, the second 10 minutes of play saw both offenses come to life which paved the way for a high scoring matchup. The Grizzlies scored 14 second quarter points, while the Hawks added 13 of their own.
Marshell Hollins opened up the second frame with a layup at the 8:57 mark to get the Grizzlies within one but the Hawks had an answer each time early on to maintain a slim lead. Late first half opportunities keep the Grizzlies in striking distance as the Hawks never led by more than four points. With just under four minutes to play in the half, Hollins hit a quick layup on a pass frm
Zakiya Beckles to tie the game at 18-18.
A jumper from Ruiz with :25 left in the first half gave Adams State its first lead of the second quarter, 22-21, by a three-pointer from Rockhurst right before the buzzer put the home team in front 24-22 going into the break. Despite being down at the half, the Grizzlies shot 47.4% from the floor and held the Hawks to just 31% shooting. The points in the paint battle was even at 12 apiece, but two made triples by Hawks to the Grizzlies none help them maintain a a two-point edge.
Coming out of the break, Adams State found an offensive rhythm that Rockhurst was not able to stop as the visitors scored 26 unanswered points. The Hawks put up half of the Grizzlies third quarter total and it was a 48-37 advantage for the Grizzlies going into the fourth quarter
The Grizzlies started the third quarter action with a 9-0 run that lasted 3:28. With 6:15 to play in the third, the Grizzlies found themselves in front 31-24. Looking to match their second half intensity, the Hawks strung together a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 31-30 with just under four and a half minutes to play in the third.
Looking to respond and take control of the game's tempo and pace, Adams State outscored Rockhurst 17-7 in the final 4:06 of the third to establish a double figure lead going into the fourth. A three pointer from
Brooke Neal at the 1:44 mark of the third gave the Grizzlies their first double-digit lead of the night at 42-32. Beckles led the offensive charge with six of the 17 points in that span, while Hollins was right behind her with five.
Going into the fourth, the game remained at a high offensive pace but it was the Hawks that put together a high scoring quarter this time around to force overtime. They scored 27 points in the fourth, while the Grizzlies scored 16. The Grizzlies managed to stay in front of the Hawks for nearly seven minutes of the fourth but the Hawks slowly chipped away at the lead. The Hawks scored a quick layup early in the fourth, but a
Maddie Dorris layup gave the Grizzlies a 50-39 lead early on.
Rockhurst ultimately tied the game at the 3:09 mark of the fourth to bring the score to 56-56. The 17-6 run by the Hawks came thanks in part to four turnover by the Grizzlies in that span. They retook the lead at 59-56 off a made three with 2:20 to play in regulation. The Grizzlies added one more layup before the final 1:39 of the fourth came down to free throws. The Grizzlies were a perfect 6-for-6 at the charity strip, while Hawks went just 5-of-8.
Tied at 64-all going into the first overtime, both teams put up six points to keep the game at a stalemate. Neal put up four of Adams State's six points but a pair of missed free throws kept them from taking the win. Rockhurst add one made shot from the floor as well and made all four free throw attempts to keep the game tied at 70.
The Hawks 12 point surge in the second overtime gave them the season opening win. The Grizzlies added nine to keep things close the whole time, but came up just short. The difference maker came at the free throw line and from beyond the arc. The Hawks went 3-of-5 from the charity strip and 1-of-3 from deep. The Grizzlies were just 1-of-2 at the line, but went 0-of-3 from three-point range.
As a team, Adams State finished the night with a 46% shooting average on 29-of-63 shooting from the floor, while holding Rockhurst to 39.7% shooting (25-of-63). The Hawks had the edge at the free throw line with attempts as they shot 39 free throws to the Grizzlies 21. The Grizzlies won the rebound battle, 48-27, and the points in the paint battle, 42-37.
Neal led the Grizzlies with a double-double performance as she scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 13 boards. She also added four assists on the night. Hollins led the way in scoring as she tied the game-high with 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting. She also pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists. Ruiz chipped in 13 points and five rebounds. Beckles rounded out the double figure scoring with 11 points and also had five boards on the night.
Madeline Ronhausen led Rockhurst with 23 points and a game-high five assists. Lauren Krissman was not far behind her with 19 points and five boards. Claire Ross was the only other double figure scorer with 10 points. Rachel Holden led the team in rebounds with seven to go along with eight points.
The Grizzlies will be back on the hardwood this Sunday as they remain in the Show-Me State. They will take on William Jewell College this Sunday, Nov. 11 with the game set for a 12p.m. MT/1 p.m. CT tip-off.
