Pioneers Continue Hot Streak With 5th Straight Win

Crowley's Ridge- 74

Haskell- 71

Pioneers Continue Hot Streak With 5th Straight Win- Wil Teague, Sports Information Director, 2-16-23

Women's Basketball hosted the Indians of Haskell Indian Nations University this afternoon in their second to last regular season matchup. The Lady Pioneers, having already broken the single-season win record with their 4th consecutive win in their last contest, looked to have their win streak and record-setting season challenged with a tough Haskell team. The Pioneers took a lead into the half, but a strong push from Haskell in the last draining minutes of the contest caused CRC to barely slip past the Indians with a score of 74-71. 

Paragould, Ark.- The Lady Pioneers were looking for their redemption shot against the Indians of Haskell as for the last time they ran into them, Haskell got the better of the 'Neers ending their season in the CAC conference tournament semifinals last year. The Pioneers and the Indians seemed to be matched as each team went bucket for bucket in the first. Haskell tilted the scale their way by going on a 5-0 run ending quarter one ahead 20-15. The difference maker of the game would be quarter two. CRC rallied their biggest quarter of the season with a whopping 28 points. Brinley Morgan and Reigiana Ward swung the energy back to Crowley's Ridge by Morgan knocking down three three-pointers and Ward bucketing 9 points in the paint giving CRC a 43-30 lead at halftime. Haskell barely edged the Pioneers in quarter three allowing them to cut the lead down, but Octavia Lowery would nail a deep three-ball with 2:19 left before the fourth keeping the Pioneers ahead by double digits. Pioneers enter the last quarter up 11, 59-48. The Indians saved their best for last as they produced a 23-point quarter. Haskell found their second wind and immediately started dwindling CRC's lead. At the 2:37 mark, Haskell cut the lead to just 2 points with back-to-back layups. Hunter Gibson would make a jumper giving CRC the 2-possession lead, and it would be a good thing because the Indians would drain a three the next possession taking back anything the Pioneers could produce. Travia Woodruff would grab the inbound and with the forced foul from Haskell, step to the charity stripe. Woodruff sank both free throws, giving CRC the crucial 3-point lead of 72-69 with 52 seconds left in the game. The Indians would use the entire shot clock as they snuck a 2-pointer by the Pioneers making it 72-71 CRC. Head Coach Brad Phillips immediately called timeout to scheme on the whiteboard, planning the next move. When play resumed, the Pioneers executed perfectly as Brinley Morgan dished an assist to Octavia Lowery giving them the 74-71 point lead with 8 seconds left. Haskell inbounded the ball and with the final seconds ticking off the clock, quickly crossed half-court but as they attempted the three-point game-tying shot, Sierrah Floyd rejected their attempt with a block allowing the Pioneers to grab the loose ball and secure the win. 

Leaders:

Octavia Lowery led with a double-double, 20 points with 11 rebounds. Hunter Gibson and Brinley Morgan posted 13 points. Reigiana finished with 12 points.

Up Next:

WBB wraps up its regular season with a game against Baptist Bible on Saturday, February 18th at 3:00 pm.