Griffins send Blue Jays into overtime

St. Louis-The Fontbonne University women's basketball team took the Westminster College Blue Jays into overtime, after trailing by as many as 20 points. The Griffins fell 62-72. Fontbonne is now 1-1 in SLIAC play (2-9 overall) and Westminster is 3-0 (3-8 overall).

Even though Fontbonne scored the first bucket on the night, the Blue Jays came out strong with a full-court press to go on a 9-0 run to lead 9-2 before the Griffins were able to connect with the basket once again. Blue Jays led 38-21 at the half.

Westminster outshot the Griffins 55%-33% in the 1^st half. Westminster's Talisha Washington scored 11 points while Fontbonne's Samantha Voegtle recorded 8 points and 5 rebounds for the Griffins before heading into the locker room.

Trailing by 11, Fontbonne upped the pressure with a full-court press to pull within 6 with 6:21 left to play. A Blue Jay fast break turnover and griffin basket later, the griffins only trailed by 5. On a foul by the Blue Jays (Leigh Ann Lutz), Hillary Johnson went to the line with the score 59-60. Johnson drained the first shot. With the score tied at 60, teammate Allison Hogan gained the offensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Lutz. At the line, Hogan missed both free throws. Hannah Kloster committed an offensive foul to give the Griffins the ball with 0.5 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Westminster took a 6-0 lead on Fontbonne and didn't look back. Each team finished the night with four players scoring in double digit. For Westminster, the top scorers were Washington (15), Hannah Kloster (12), Kenna Cornelson (10), and Mackenzie Haddox (10). Washington finished the night with a Blue Jay double-double scoring two game highs on the night (15 pts, 11 rebounds).

For Fontbonne, offensive threats were Voegtle (15), H. Johnson (12), Ava Johnson (11), and Hogan (11). Hogan recorded a double-double for the Griffins finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.  Griffin freshman Kaitlyn Brame recorded 5 rebounds in only 7 minutes of play to help send the Griffins into overtime.

Fontbonne returns to Lee McKinney Court Tuesday, January 8^th to take on the Eureka College Red Devils at 6pm.