The Case Western Reserve University women's basketball team did not trail until the final minute on Saturday afternoon, but a three-pointer by Denison University with 13 seconds left in the game gave the Big Red a 52-51 win over the Spartans in Granville, Ohio.
The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Spartans, who fell to 5-4 overall. Denison improved to 6-2 with the win.
Graduate student forward Kate Montgomery led all CWRU players with 15 points on seven-of-17 shooting from the floor and one-of-three from behind the three-point line. She also collected nine rebounds, three steals, and a pair of blocks. Sophomore guard/forward Emily Plachta added 11 points, and senior guard Sarah Mitchell scored eight with a team-high 10 rebounds and five assists.
Montgomery and Plachta helped the Spartans take the early lead on Saturday, combining for 18 of the team's 20 points in the first quarter. Montgomery scored CWRU's first seven points of the game and nine of the team's first 11 to help the Spartans jump out to an 11-2 lead by the 4:59 mark in the first period. In the final minute of the frame, Plachta connected on a pair of three-pointers on the team's final two possessions of the period to give the Spartans an 11-point lead, 20-9, heading into the second. CWRU led by nine points, 22-13, with 5:34 left in the half before a 9-2 run put the Spartans in front 31-15 with 3:09 on the clock. Layups by senior forward Kayla Characklis and Montgomery to close out the half gave the Spartans a 35-17 lead at halftime.
The Spartans maintained a double-digit lead through most of the third quarter, but a Denison three-pointer as time expired in the period cut the Spartan lead to nine points, 47-38, heading into the final period. The three to end the third started an 11-1 run for Denison that allowed the Big Red to pull back within two points, 48-46, with 5:09 to play in the game. The Big Red tied the game at 49-49 on a pair of free throws with 2:10 to play, marking the first time the score had been even since the 8:04 mark in the first quarter. However, Montgomery hit a jumper on the next possession to give the Spartans the lead back. CWRU remained ahead until a Denison three with 13 seconds left put the Big Red in front for the first time in the game, 52-51. The Spartans had one final chance, but a jumper by Mitchell at the buzzer missed the mark to give Denison the win.
CWRU will be off for finals for the next 11 days before returning to action with a trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the D3 December Clasico. The Spartans are set to play a pair of games at the event, taking on Emmanuel College on Wednesday, December 20 and Norwich University on Thursday, December 21.
