The REPORTER
The University girls won their fifth Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championship in seven years with a gritty 34-28 win at Shortridge Friday night.
Playing without leading scorer Taylor Seay (injury) the Trailblazers jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter before Shortridge rallied to tie the score in both the third quarter and with four minutes remaining. University never trailed in the game and ended the game scoring 10 of the last 14 points.
University used a pair of three pointers by Gabby Culp and one by Sydney Culp in their first quarter run. Anyah Turley had two free throws and a field goal in the opening period. University led 16-4 on a Sydney Culp three pointer and took a 16-10 lead to the halftime locker room
A layin by Turley in the third quarter put University up 18-13 before Shortridge roared back to knot the score at 18. The Blazers held the Blue Devils scoreless the rest of the third quarter while getting to the foul line to rack up the points. Turley, Gabby Culp and Leah Norvell combined to go six of eight at the charity stripe to close out the quarter and give University a 24-18 lead.
Shortridge scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 24 with 4:30 left. Turley drilled a three pointer on University’s ensuing possession to put the Blazers up for good. Mack Feeney scored in the lane for a five-point lead with 3:27 left. Strong defense was featured the next two minutes as the teams went scoreless until Shortridge added two foul shots with 1:09 left.
Turley was fouled intentionally with 27 seconds remaining and made one of two foul shots. Sydney Culp added two foul shots with 15 seconds left and Gabby Culp added one with 15 seconds left to ice the game with a 33-26 lead.
The game was University’s second with Shortridge this week. The Blue Devils prevailed Tuesday night 48-45.
University coach Lisa Pryor was thrilled for her players. “We finally played like we know we can play. The kids really needed that. I’m so happy for them. It was a good team win. Not one person did more than any other. Good team offense, good team defense and we hit our free throws at the end. We did a much better job boxing out – we got killed on the boards Tuesday.”
Turley had 15 points to lead University. Gabby and Sydney Culp each had eight points. Gabby Culp had a team-high 11 rebounds. Norvell and Feeney each had three assists, with Norvell assisting on three of the Blazers five first-half field goals.
The win broke a five-game losing streak and improves University’s record to 8-11. Shortridge falls to 11-6.
University is off until Jan. 28 when it will host Decatur Central in a senior night contest at The U Center. Tip time is 6 p.m.
