Cavs Upend WP in Final Seconds

Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Briannah Smith cut to the rim for a layup with under five seconds to play, sending Concordia to a 57-54 win over Warner Pacific tonight at Bart Valentine Court.

The Basics

• Score: Concordia 57, Warner Pacific 54
• Records: CU (10-9, 4-6 CCC), WPC (9-14, 2-8 CCC)
• Location: C.C. Perry Gym, Portland, Ore.
• The Short Story: Warner Pacific fought back from an eight point deficit in the second half and eventually took a lead, but fell short thanks to heroics from Briannah Smith. With the game tied at 54-54, Smith faced up at the elbow and drove to the hoop for the score with five seconds on the clock. On the ensuing possession, the Knights could not inbound the ball and CU added a free throw to provide the final margin. The loss sends Warner Pacific to 2-8 in Cascade Conference play and currently out of the playoff picture. The Cavaliers improve to 4-6 and are back in the post-season hunt.

How it Happened

• Connecting on their first two shots, Warner Pacific grabbed an early 6-0 lead with 3-pointers by Jordan Wilcox and Kyeli Hendryx.
• The Cavaliers weathered the early storm to eventually take a 28-23 advantage on Sierra Dean free throws moments before the break. A Hendryx free throw in the waning seconds made it a four-point lead at the half for the visitors.
• A 5-1 mini-scoring spree out of the half doubled CU's lead to eight points (33-25) for the largest edge for either side.
• From there, the Knights strung together its best extended run of the evening, a stretch that included a trio of 3-pointers, two by Hendryx and another by Jackson, to retake the lead at 38-37 with 13:50 remaining.
• Over the last 14 minutes, however, neither team created more than a three-point advantage to set up the dramatic final minute.
• Not only did Smith provide the game winner, but the sophomore guard dropped a go-ahead layup moments earlier for a 54-53 Cavalier lead. Smith was held without a point until the 50 seconds of play.
• With 28 seconds left, WPC's Lindsay Loe had a chance to give the home side another lead at the free throw line, but Loe managed to convert just 1-of-2 of her chances to create the seventh tie of the game.
• After Smith's second layup, Concordia forced a turnover which led to a trip to the line for Dean, who drained 1-of-2 with three seconds remaining. The score held for the final spread as the Knights failed to get off a potential game-tying shot.
• The game featured 13 lead changes, including four in the last four minutes alone.

Notable

• For Concordia, the win avenged a home loss against the Knights earlier in the season.
• Low and Hendryx each scored 14 for the Knights.
• Concordia managed to outshoot the Knights, 34.4 percent to 33.9 percent but WPC finished with a 43-41 edge on the boards.

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Players Mentioned

#32 Kyeli Hendryx: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#2 Lorena Torres: G; 5' 4"; Senior

#11 Jordan Wilcox: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#13 Lindsay Loe: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#44 Brett Larson: F; 6' 3"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#32 Kyeli Hendryx
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Lorena Torres
: 5' 4"; Senior
: G

#11 Jordan Wilcox
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#13 Lindsay Loe
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#44 Brett Larson
: 6' 3"; Junior
: F

Warner Pacific University Athletics

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Cavs Upend WP in Final Seconds

Players Mentioned

#32 Kyeli Hendryx

#2 Lorena Torres

#11 Jordan Wilcox

#13 Lindsay Loe

#44 Brett Larson

Players Mentioned

#32 Kyeli Hendryx

#2 Lorena Torres

#11 Jordan Wilcox

#13 Lindsay Loe

#44 Brett Larson