Centre guard Bridget Winstead, left, had three 3-point goals in Sunday's win over Oglethorpe. (Mike Marsee) |
ATLANTA — Centre College had to go to overtime to remain in first place in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play but pulled out a 74-71 win Sunday.
“We got a great win today. We found a way again at the end to win and that’s what matters,” said Centre coach Wendie Austin-Robinson. “We were down seven points with two minutes to go, got it to overtime and made big plays in the overtime. Credit Oglethorpe for dictating tempo, but I¿am proud of our girls for the way they fought back. To be down seven and get to overtime and come back was huge.”
Senior guard Maggie Prewitt had 25 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals for Centre (20-2, 14-1 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) while Chelsea Benham had 12 points and eight rebounds. Lauren Huter had 11 points.
Alsyon Burke’s 3-pointer gave Centre a 51-49 lead before the Stormy Petrels went on a 7-0 run and eventually took a seven-point lead with 2 minutes, 3 seconds left in regulation.
Centre closed regulation play on an 8-1 run and Benham tied the game with two free throws with 25 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, Oglethorpe led 71-69 with 1:15 left when Benham scored to tie the game. Prewitt got a steal and converted a three-point play with 13 seconds left to give the Colonels the win.
“Chelsea hit big free throws to tie the game in regulation and perhaps the biggest shot came when we were down seven and Alyson Burke hit a 3-pointer to start the comeback,” Austin-Robinsonn said. “In overtime, Huter hit a big shot and Maggie made a big 3. Maggie also had a steal and layup and foul shot to put the game away.
Centre was 23-for-56 from the field and 16-for-19 at the foul line. From 3-point range, the Colonels were 12-for-24 as Prewitt led theway going 4-for-5 while Burke and Bridget Winstead both made three 3’s.
Oglethorpe (8-16, 5-10 SCAC) was 29-for-64 from the field, including 6-for-16 from 3-point range, and 7-for-14 at the foul line.
“This was a total team effort against an atheltic, quick team,” Austin-Robinson said. “It was not our prettiest day, but we found a way to win and everybody that played contributed.”
Austin-Robinson says Friday’s home game with Millsaps will determine the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SCAC Tournament.
Centre now has 20 wins for the first time since the 2000-2001 season when Centre finished 22-6 and won the SCAC title and reached the Division III¿NCAA Tournament.
Men
Donovan Whiteside had 20 points and eight rebounds to help Centre win its final road game of the regular season 74-60 over Oglethorpe (11-13, 6-9 SCAC).
Centre (15-7, 8-5 SCAC) had a 47-36 lead early in the second half before getting just one field goal in seven minutes as the home team cut the lead to 53-52. However, the Colonels went on an 11-0 run with Whiteside getting four straight points and Byron Ellis hitting two 3-pointers to extend the lead to 64-52.
“I was very pleased with our performance,” Centre coach Greg Mason said. “We did not play great on Friday, but our guys came out and played good basketball. We guarded as well as we have in a long time and overall it was as well as we have played in about two months”
Rebounding and 3-point defense were keys to the win. Centre won the rebounding battle 38-18 as James Malone came off the bench to provide both six rebounds and six points. “It was energy we really needed,” Mason said.
Oglethorpe was third in the nation in 3-point shooting, but was just 3-for-17 from long range Sunday and 25-for-51 overall. Centre was 9-for-21 from 3-point range and 26-for-54 overall.
“We guarded their 3 well to limit them to three,” Mason said. “Their post guy (Andrew Steioff) went off for 27 points, but we stopped the 3.”
Guard Jeff Mullaney had 16 points, but also grabbed eight rebounds in 37 minutes of play.
“Mullaney just had his usual good game and Whiteside played as well as he has all year. He really had a presence on the floor we needed,” Mason said.
Collin Lopez had 10 points and Ellis finished with nine, all on 3-pointers.
CENTRE COLLEGE 74, OGLETHORPE 71
CENTRE COLLEGE (20-2, 14-1 SCAC): Maggie Prewitt 8-15 5-5 25, Chelsea Benham 3-11 6-7 12, Lauren Huter 3-4 5-5 11, Bridget Winstead 3-6 0-0 9, Alyson Burke 3-8 0-0 9, Maggie Hartlage 2-6 0-0 5, Jane Goatley 1-2 0-0 3, Jenna Mire 0-0 0-0 0, Paige Baechle 0-3 0-2 0, Cailynn West 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 16-19 74.
OGLETHORPE (8-16, 5-10 SCAC): Sarah Jones 7-13 0-0 16, Mareva Bone 4-9 4-7 12, Katie Weeks 5-12 0-0 11, Sarah Giles 5-11 0-1 10, Riley Cerone 3-5 0-0 9, Kyana Jenkins 2-2 1-2 5, Aisha Atwater 2-4 0-0 4, Ky'Laine Rogers 0-2 2-4 2, Morghan Brandon 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 29-64 7-14 71.
Halftime—Centre 30, Oglethorpe 26. 3-point goals—Centre College 12-24 (Maggie Prewitt 4-5, Bridget Winstead 3-6, Alyson Burke 3-8, Maggie Hartlage 1-3, Jane Goatley 1-2), Oglethorpe 6-16 (Riley Cerone 3-4, Sarah Jones 2-7, Katie Weeks 1-3, Mareva Bone 0-2). Rebounds—Centre College 35 (Chelsea Benham 8), Oglethorpe 38 (Sarah Giles 8). Assists—Centre College 18 (Maggie Prewitt 8), Oglethorpe 17 (Aisha Atwater 4). Total fouls—Centre College 15, Oglethorpe 14.
