Late Spark Keys Bulldogs To First GLVC Victory

Box Score
Truman (Mo.) 74 (7-4, 1-2 GLVC)
Leading Scorer: Bianca Szafarowicz 17 points, 11 rebounds, six assists

Wisconsin-Parkside 68 (4-6, 0-2 GLVC)
Leading Scorer: Gaby Bronson 20 points

Highlight: Bulldogs overcome 10-point deficit to pick up their first Great Lakes Valley Conference victory.

KENOSHA, Wisc. – The Truman Women's Basketball team used a 16-3 run in the final five minutes to down the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday afternoon 74-68 to notch their first GLVC victory. Bianca Szafarowicz led Truman with a double-double of 17 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Truman's free throw shooting kept them in the contest early as the Bulldogs struggled from the field missing 14 of their first 15 shots but were the exact opposite at the foul line in the first half. The Bulldogs finished with 29 free throws made, the most by a Bulldog team in a conference game and fourth most made overall out of 33 attempts.

However, the Rangers took their largest lead at 32-22 with five minutes left in the first half and Truman had to claw their way back.

Truman had three chances to take the lead with the score at 52-51 but a three-point play extended the lead back out to four midway through the period.

The Rangers maintained a two-point lead over the next five minutes but two starters fouled out within 15 seconds and the Bulldogs took advantage. Allie Norton buried her second triple of the contest with 4:10 left to give Truman a lead they would not surrender.

Norton hit another late three following an offensive rebound by Courtney Strait to give Truman a 70-65 lead and the Bulldogs got stops on the defensive end with a tie-up forced by Szafarowicz and a blocked shot by Michalina Tomczak with under a minute to play.

Szafarowicz iced it with a free throw late to finish with 17 points, 11 coming from the stripe on 13 attempts. Norton and Amy Briggs both had 15 points and Tomczak finished with 10.

Gaby Bronson led all scorers with 20 points for the Rangers while Tara Knapstein finished with 17 before fouling out.

Truman won the boards by a 38-29 advantage and had 14 offensive rebounds leading to 21 second chance points. The Bulldogs also outscored the Rangers from the line 29-7 and had just eight turnovers.

Truman will return to Kirksville to host the University of Illinois Springfield on Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. The Prairie Stars were defeated by Missouri-St. Louis 73-68 on Sunday.

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