Women’s Basketball Loses Close Game in Home Opener – Indiana University South Bend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – One point was the difference on Saturday afternoon as the Indiana University South Bend women’s basketball team played its first game in front of the home crowd. With Indiana University Kokomo in town, a back-and-forth affair came down to the last possession.
IU South Bend trailed by six with one minute left in the game. A Kyleigh Kubik (SO/LaPorte, Indiana) triple brought the Titans within three points of the Cougar lead. After two made free throws from IUK, freshman Kylie Fehrman (FR/Griffith, Indiana) drained another three to make it a two-point game. After a turnover by IU Kokomo, a flagrant foul was called, sending Jess Alexander (SR/Granger, Indiana) to the line for two shots. Alexander made one, making it a one-point game with three seconds left and the Titans in possession of the ball. A botched inbounds play ended the game, final score 69-68, IU Kokomo.
IU South Bend trailed the whole first quarter and led briefly in the second quarter but an 8-0 run from the Cougars to close out the frame made it 29-23 at halftime.
The Cougars stayed in command most of the third quarter but a late surge from the Titans, capped off by a Fehrman half-court buzzer beater that was originally ruled no basket but overturned after a brief meeting by the officials, sent the game into the final quarter even at 45.
With the score even at 57 with 4:16 left, IU Kokomo continued to get big shots when they needed them and the Titans could not seem to get a stop when they needed it. The game came down to the final possession and it was the Cougars who came away victorious.
Vicki Gard (SO/Schererville, Indiana) led the Titans with 20 points while Alexander chipped in with 15 points. Fehrman ended the day with 13 points.
IU South Bend will return to action Wednesday as they travel to Gary to take on IU Northwest. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.