TU's Late Rally Falls Short at Huntington

Box Score

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Taylor women's basketball team cut a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to three, but could not pull out the win, falling at Huntington, 75-68, on Wednesday night.

Taylor jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the early goings, but Huntington rattled off 11 consecutive points to jump in front, 15-10. Kendall Bradbury's five-point spurt evened the score before a Forester bucket gave HU a 17-15 lead at the end of the first period.

In the second quarter, points were at a premium, as both teams combined to tally just 16 points, with the Trojans managing just two buckets in the frame to trail Huntington, 28-20, at halftime.

Taylor shot just 26 percent in the opening half, compared to 38 percent for the hosts.

Huntington (14-14, 8-9 CL) opened the second half with a pair of baskets to extend the lead to double-digits for the first time in the contest at 32-20. The Foresters maintained the double-digit advantage, leading by as many as 15 at one point, until Bradbury's layup with 88 seconds left in the period cut the TU deficit to nine. Aubrey Wright added an and-one in the final seconds to pull Taylor within six, 52-46, entering the fourth quarter.

The Foresters quickly doubled their lead to twelve, 58-46, early in the final stanza after consecutive three-pointers. At the six-minute mark, TU trailed 62-49, but a nine-to-zero burst by the Trojans cut the HU lead to just 62-58 with 1:56 remaining in the game. The two teams traded buckets and free throws until a triple by Cassidy Wyse brought Taylor to within three, 69-66, with 36 ticks left on the clock. Two free throws by Huntington and then a layup by Bradbury with 26 seconds left made it 71-68 in favor of the home team. HU hit two more free throws and the Trojans turned it over on the ensuing possession before Huntington hit two more free throws to make the 75-68 final.

For the second consecutive game, TU had four players reach double-figure scoring. Bradbury led the way with 23 points on nine-of-18 (50 percent) shooting, while also grabbing 11 rebounds to notch her 13th double-double of the year. Wright added a stellar performance of 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Josie Cobb and Wyse produced 11 points apiece, with Wyse collecting eight boards and five assists as well.

Taylor (12-17, 7-10 CL) will return to the hardwood for its regular season finale and Senior Day on Saturday, as the Trojans host Grace (14-15, 9-8 CL) at 1:00 pm inside Odle Arena.