Darnell grabs 1000th rebound, Tigers fall in OT
Madison Darnell made more history by becoming the 1st player in program history to grab 1000 career rebounds. She finished the game with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists, but it was not enough as Georgetown fell to Shawnee State in overtime, 73-68.
The Tigers got off to a strong start, taking a 13-4 lead just 3:30 into the game, forcing a Shawnee timeout. The lead would grow to 15-5 before Shawnee started chipping away. Missed interior shots and turnovers allowed the Bears to slowly get back in the game. Those 2 factors would prove critical for most of the day. Georgetown scored just 2 points over the final 5:48 of the quarter and a 10-point lead went down to 4 at the end of the 1st. The teams would play to a 14-14 tie in the 2nd. Both shot 6-14 from the floor with 4 turnovers.
The 3rd quarter proved to be a turning point in the game as Shawnee began attacking and getting to the foul line. The Bears shot just 4-10 from the floor but went 7-8 from the line in the quarter. Georgetown's offense went cold, going just 3-12 shooting. Shawnee slipped into a 42-41 lead going to the 4th.
Georgetown started the 4th on a 7-2 run to go up 48-44, but the Bears answered with a 7-0 run to go back ahead, 51-48, with 5:52 left. Callie Jackson then came up huge. A 3-point play followed by 2 free throws sent the Tigers to a 53-51 lead with 5:06 to go. Shawnee would slowly go back ahead and lead 59-55 with 1:21 left. Georgetown got a defensive stop and a score from Erin Toller with 22 seconds left to cut the deficit to 2. Toller was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to bring GC within 59-58. Georgetown fouled on the subsequent Bears possession. Shawnee hit 1-2 from the line, pushing the lead to 60-58 with 19 seconds left. Head Coach Jeff Nickel called a timeout and drew up a perfect play to get Izzy Lamparty free inside for a game-tying lay-in. Shawnee had 1 final chance to win it in regulation but was unable to convert, sending the game to overtime.
Izzy Lamparty scored the 1st 4 Tiger points in overtime, sandwiched around 2 SSU free throws. The last bucket came with a foul. The free throw gave GC a 65-62 lead with 3:46 to go in overtime. The Bears would answer with 2 free throws and a 3-pointer from Marnae Holland, putting the Bears ahead, 67-65. The 3-pointer would be the only made field goal for SSU in overtime. The Tigers had chances to tie or go ahead, but consecutive turnovers put the Bears back on the line and pushed the SSU lead to 69-65 with 23 seconds to go. A Tigers missed bucket inside led to more SSU free throws and a 71-65 lead with 16 seconds to go. Erin Toller would knock down a 3 with 9 seconds left, getting the Tigers within 3, but the Bears kept knocking down free throws for the 73-68 win.
Shawnee State went 10-10 from the line in overtime and 27-30 for the game, compared to the Tigers 10-13 foul shooting. Turnovers also doomed the Tigers on this day. 23 giveaways led to 25 Shawnee State points. Erin Toller struggled shooting but still tied for the team-high with 13 points. Izzy Lamparty also scored 13 while grabbing 9 rebounds. Callie Jackson proved effective off the bench once more, scoring 10 points.
Georgetown will now wait until the NAIA announces the field of 64 on Thursday night to find out where they will travel for the national tournament.