The University girls improved to 4-2 on the season Tuesday night with a hard fought 60-52 win over Clinton Prairie at The U Center.
Patty Chikamba led the way for the Trailblazers with 19 points, six steals and a perfect 8 for 8 line at the free throw line. Kelsey DuBois put up another double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Payton Seay was the third Blazer in double figures with 12 points.
The teams traded baskets early in the game before a DuBois basket with 4:15 left in the quarter gave University the lead for good at 7-6. Payton Seay hit a three pointer then scored on a layin off a steal and University led 12-6. The Gophers added a pair of free throws with 2:48 left before University ran off the last eight points of the quarter. Freshman Taylor Seay came off the bench to score six straight points before Chikamba was fouled at the buzzer and made both free throws with no time remaining for a 20-8 University lead after the first.
Clinton Prairie battled back in the second quarter as University dealt with foul trouble. The Blazers had a 28-20 lead on a Alex Feeney basket before the Gophers scored next four points. Feeney scored on a rebound with 1:10 left for the last scoring of the first half and 30-24 University edge. The Trailblazers were whistled for 11 personal fouls in the first half, leading to 13 Gopher foul shots. University attempted just three free throws in the first half.
Clinton Prairie scored the first basket of the third quarter before University threatened to blow the game open by scoring nine straight points. Payton Seay and Chikamba had baskets before Jordan Patterson found Chikamba on a back door cut for an easy two. DuBois’ rebound basket with 3:08 left gave the Blazers their largest lead of the night at 39-26 and forced a Gopher timeout. The Blazers maintained their advantage for the rest of the quarter and a DuBois basket with five seconds left gave Universiity a 46-35 lead after three.
The University offense went dry in the fourth quarter as the Blazers did not score for more than four minutes while dealing with three players having four fouls. Clinton Prairie got within 46-43 before Chikamba ended the drought with a pair of foul shots. Chikamba came through again with a steal and fast break basket for a 50-45 lead with 3:06 left. Baskets by DuBois and Patterson stretched the lead to 54-45 and University made their free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Clinton Prairie is now 3-4 on the season. Senior Tynlie Neal had a game-high 21 points for the Gophers.
University begin Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference North Division play Thursday night when they host Anderson Prepartory Academy at 6:30 pm in a varsity-only contest.
UNIVERSITY 60, CLINTON PRAIRIE 52
University FG FT TP PF
Kelsey DuBois 4-9 3-4 11 3
Patty Chikamba 5-11 8-8 19 4
Kamryn Washington 1-1 0-3 2 2
Payton Seay 4-12 2-2 12 2
Jordan Patterson 1-6 0-0 2 4
Abby Hannon 0-1 0-0 0 1
Taylor Seay 5-8 0-0 10 4
Alex Feeney 2-5 0-0 4 1
Totals 22-53 13-17 60 21
Score by Quarters
Clinton Prairie 8 11 16 17 – 52
University 20 10 16 14 – 60
University 3-point shooting (3-10) P. Seay 2-5, Chikamba 1-3, Patterson 0-2.
University rebounds (30) DuBois 10, Chikamba 5, P. Seay 5, Patterson 3, Washington 2, T. Seay 2, Feeney 2, Hannon 1.