Article by: Colin Gowin
The Blackburn College Women’s basketball Team played in a nonconference contest against Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. on Thursday, Nov. 24. Coming into the game Blackburn had a 0-3 record and Knox College had a 1-0 record.
Blackburn starters were as follows: senior Danae Smith, sophomore Aleisha Stiltner, sophomore Candace Pollock, freshman Elisabeth Johnston and freshman Angela Andrews. Candace Pollock scored the first two points quickly. A fast paced first quarter which saw Blackburn take a large number of high percentage shots ended with a 21-17 Blackburn lead. The second quarter started slowly as neither team scored in the first three minutes. Knox battled back and took the lead at 24-23 with 5:01 remaining in the second quarter. Like the half as a whole, the remainder of the quarter was a dog fight and neither team could gain much of an edge. The score was tied up at 33 at the half. The first half leaders for Blackburn were Danae Smith who had seven points and six rebounds and Angela Andrews who scored four points and brought down an impressive 16 rebounds. As a team Blackburn turned the ball over 30 times in the half but shot 41 percent from the field while holding Knox to 17 percent shooting.
Blackburn started the third quarter with same five that started the first quarter. Both teams fouled frequently to start the third quarter and they were both in the bonus with 5:27 left. Blackburn went on a run and pulled ahead 50-40 with 3:50 left on the clock in the third. The Beavers were able to hang on to their ten point lead to close the third quarter out with a 59-49 lead. To start the fourth quarter the back-and-forth game continued. Knox clawed their way back into the game with a run that began with six minutes left in the game. With 4:53 remaining, Blackburn’s lead was down to one point at 65-64 and then tied the game at 66 with 3:45 left. The Beavers took a hit when Angela Andrews fouled out with 3:38 left. The down-to-the-wire game had Knox up 73-72 with 24 seconds left and Blackburn’s Aleisha Stiltner at the free throw line. Stiltner sank both free throws to give Blackburn the one point advantage. Knox with the ball with 24 seconds remaining drives baseline and is cut off by Danique Smith who took a charge to give Blackburn back possession of the ball. Stiltner is fouled with eleven seconds left and goes back to the line where she makes both free throws to extend the lead to three which is answered with a Knox three making the score 76-76 and taking the game into overtime.
Overtime began with a Knox layup within the first ten seconds which was followed by a steal and another Knox layup. Stiltner hit a jump shot to bring it back to two points but it wasn’t long until there was another Knox layup. Sophomore Casey Fellin went to the line and made one of two free throws to make it a three point game. Knox drives the lane and nobody is home, giving them yet another layup down the stretch. The ball is inbounded to Aleisha Stiltner who takes the ball down and is fouled. Stiltner made both free throws and it was a four point game. A Knox player is fouled and makes one of two free throws. Blackburn corrals the rebound and the ball goes to Danae Smith who gets a layup making it 85-83 and a Knox lead with 55 seconds left. With 13 seconds remaining Blackburn is forced to foul because they are behind two. Knox makes both free throws to seal the deal and put them up 87-83 which was also the final score.
The major game changers in the game were Knox’s 31 steals on Blackburn’s 57 turnovers and Blackburn’s 41 percent shooting from the field to Knox’s 18 percent. Blackburn’s top performers were Angela Andrews who had a double-double with 16 points and 26 rebounds and Aleisha Stiltner who scored 15 points and gathered nine rebounds.
The women’s basketball team will take the court again on Monday, Nov. 30 in a home game against Millikin University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm.