Rhonehouse Tough; Purdue Northwest Women Fall 54-46 to Tiffin

Rhonehouse Tough; Purdue Northwest Women Fall 54-46 to Tiffin

Tiffin, Ohio – Sophomore Shae Rhonehouse (Fremont, Ind./Fremont) had 16 points, but the Purdue Northwest women’s basketball team struggled offensively and fell 54-46 to Tiffin University (Ohio) in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action at the Gilmore Student Center Thursday night in Tiffin, Ohio.  The Pride connected on just 32 percent (18-for-56) of their shots from the floor, including only 24 percent (6-for-25) from three-point range.  Free throws were tough as well Thursday with PNW converting on just 24 percent of its attempts (4-for-17).

Junior Michaela Kikendall (Morristown, Ind./Morristown) added 12 points for Purdue Northwest, while senior Ellie Michalski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) tallied a double-double effort with 11 points and season-best 17 rebounds (one shy of her career-best total of 18).  The Pride were solid defensively holding the host Dragons to 35 percent (20-for-57) shooting from the field on their home court.  PNW also won the rebounding battle holding a 44-38 edge in that category for the game.

The game stayed close for most of the first quarter with a three-pointer by senior Jessica Kiser (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) tying the score at 17-17 with just over a minute to play in the opening frame.  However, TU scored five straight over the rest of the period to take a 22-17 edge into the second quarter.  A pair of free throws by Kikendall with 4:10 left in the half gave the Pride a 27-26 lead and a lay-up by Michalski on their next possession extended the advantage to three, 29-26.  For the second straight quarter though, Tiffin scored the final five points and took a 31-29 lead into halftime.

The Dragons came out strong in the third quarter and quickly extended their lead to double digits, 41-31.  However, PNW recovered and a three-pointer by Rhonehouse sparked an 8-0 run to close out the frame and bring the Pride back to within two, 41-39, heading into the final quarter.  TU went up seven, 46-37, with just under five minutes left to play in regulation on a jumper by Cynthia Concepcion.  A three-pointer by sophomore Bayley Goodman (Fowler, Ind./Benton Central) cut the deficit to three, 47-44, at the 1:44 mark.  Unfortunately, the Pride could draw no closer as Tiffin hit key free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Purdue Northwest (2-11 overall/1-7 GLIAC) heads to Ashland, Ohio, on Saturday, January 13, to take on No. 1 nationally ranked Ashland University.  The GLIAC game is slated for a noon CT start at Kates Gymnasium in Ashland, Ohio.