GEORGETOWN, Texas – As two seniors, Shae Seagraves and Staley Mullins, played their final home game at Southwestern, the Pirates survived a scare and scored 25 points from the free throw line to defeat Colorado College 92-89 in overtime on Sunday afternoon.
Southwestern came out strong from the opening tip, using offensive rebounds and solid defense to build a six point lead, 9-3, three minutes in. Colorado hung close but Southwestern began to pull away from the free throw line, ultimately scoring 14 points from the charity stripe in the first half and led by eight, 40-32, heading into the break.
As the second half got underway SU built the lead to 12, 44-32 before the Tigers began to steadily chip away at the lead. Colorado took control for the first time in the game with 7:39 left in regulation, 68-67. Four minutes later Chelsea Leeder hit two free throws to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip, 76-76 with 3:21 on the clock.
Alyssa Aldaz's three-pointer on the next possession sent the lead back to Colorado and the Tigers were still up by four, 83-79, with 1:25 remaining. Southwestern called a timeout to set up the play resulting in an open three-pointer for Leeder which she knocked down easily. On the defensive end SU forced a turnover with Leeder gathering the steal. She went streaking down the floor, pulled up two feet from the basket and made the jumper to give Southwestern a one point lead, 84-83, with 47 ticks left.
Southwestern played great defense once again and secured the rebound forcing the Tigers to foul. Fareed stepped to the line and made one of two, keeping the door open for Colorado.
Luetjen posted up on block, spun and made the layup and SU turned the ball over on the inbounds pass but Emily Wattman-Turner's three point shot careened off the front of the rim to send the game into overtime 85-85.
The Pirates were the first to strike in overtime when Fareed found Katelyn Bartell open on a breakaway. Southwestern remained ahead and Seagraves posted hard on the near side block, spun and drove baseline to open a clear shot at the hoop and give SU a critical three point lead, 92-89 with 24 seconds left.
Colorado had some decent looks at the hoop but the Pirate defense held them off and secured defensive rebounds that made the difference and aided in securing the 92-89 win.
Five Pirates scored in double figures led by Leeder's 22. Fareed added in 17 as did Seagraves while Mullins posted 15 points and 15 rebounds in the win. Bartell added in 12 points. Colorado's Luetjen led all scorers with 31 points.
The win is a big one for the Pirates as the West continues to shake out for post season play. With one weekend to go Southwestern currently sits in a tie for second place at 8-7 with Trinity, whom they meet on Friday for the final game of the regular season.
