Season Opener Ends in Overtime Loss for TU Women’s Hoops
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Taylor women’s basketball program opened its 2020-2021 campaign on Tuesday in Ann Arbor, Michigan against Concordia. Offensive woes hurt the Trojans, as the team fell, 80-71, in overtime.
It took a quarter for Taylor (0-1) and Concordia (1-1) to find their footing on the offensive end, as the two teams combined for 23.1 percent shooting from the floor in the opening stanza. The Trojans sank just three field goals in the first ten minutes of the contest but only trailed by three at the end of the first.
The TU squad gained ground in the second quarter netting three treys and outrebounding the Cardinals, 10-7. Kayla Kirtley sparked the Taylor attack with two triples and eight points in the second period, helping TU to a five-point lead. The junior forward finished the game with 17 points, four rebounds and four long balls.
Concordia came out of the halftime break on fire, gathering a nine-point lead quickly into the third. Taylor battled throughout the third period and into the fourth, as Lauren James made four three-pointers in a five-minute stretch. James led the team with 19 points on Tuesday, while also adding six rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of action.
Tuesday’s contests was knotted up at 67 when regulation ended, forcing a five-minute overtime period. The Cardinals took control right off the tip, netting their first four field goal attempts and two free throws. A 12-2 run in favor of the home squad overwhelmed TU for an 80-71 finish.
Foul trouble and turnovers plagued the Purple and Gold in the loss. The Cardinal defense was relentless in the second quarter, as TU tallied seven turnovers and nine personal fouls.
Taylor’s offense reached its peak in the fourth quarter, hitting seven-of-14 field goals and four-of-six three-pointers. The squad shared the ball well, posting six assists on the seven made shots.
Madisyn Fischer was the third Trojan to reach double figures, netting 11 points with four free throws in as many attempts. The senior guard impacted the glass with four defensive rebounds and two offensive boards.
Three freshmen made their collegiate debut on Tuesday, including Taylor Westgate, Ava Henson and Claycee West. Westgate logged 27 minutes with five points and a team-high nine rebounds.