By: Vinnie Birk - Blackburn College Sports Information
Carlinville, Ill.---The Blackburn College Women's Basketball Team gave the best team in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference a run for the money on Saturday afternoon. They eventually were defeated by the Westminster College Blue Jays 72-59.
The final score did not really show how well the Beavers played. The 13 point margin of victory showcased the Blue Jays getting hot at the end of the game, as it was only one point off of their largest lead of the game. They went on a 17-9 run to finish the game and secure the victory.
Blackburn led by as much as 17 when they held a 23-6 lead with less than nine minutes to play in the first half. The Beavers were able to hold the lead going into the intermission by a score of 36-31. They shot an incredible 56 percent from the field in the half which included three of five from beyond the arc.
The Beavers remained on fire when the second half begun until the twelve minute mark when Westminster knotted up the score at 45. The game was at a standstill before the Blue Jays starte pulling away with about nine minutes to play. Blackburn was outscored 41-23 in the second half of play and could not stop the hot hand of Westminster's Leigh Ann Lutz.
Lutz was the game's leading scorer with 27, knocking down five of nine from three point range and eight of eight from the free throw strike. Westminster as a team converted 32 good free throws to Blackburn's seven. Westminster also had more opportunities from the line. Their 36 tripled Blackburn's total of 12.
Briana Rae notched her sixth double-double of the season by carrying the team with her 19 points and 11 boards. She also led the team in steals by swiping four Westminster turnovers.
Danae Smith had the best scoring game of her career and this season by throwing in six of her ten shots for a total of 13 points. Shelby Smith also added ten points and seven rebounds for Blackburn. Blackburn actually out-rebounded the Blue Jays 38 to 32 in the game.
Blackburn falls to 3-19 overall and 3-11 in SLIAC play.The women will travel to Jacksonville, Illinois and take on the MacMurray College Highlanders this upcoming Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. MacMurray is currently 6-7 in the SLIAC. The Beavers won 69-65 the last time the two teams met in Carlinville on January 10th.