SNU opens conference play at 2-0 with 59-49 win over UAM
November 19, 2017
BETHANY, Okla. — For the first time under head coach Derek Dorris, Southern Nazarene starts the season 2-0 in Great American Conference play as it defeated Arkansas-Monticello 59-49 Saturday afternoon.
The Crimson Storm (2-0, 2-0 GAC) have opened the season with back-to-back wins inside the Sawyer Center as they overcame an 18-point deficit in the first half. They held the Blossoms (2-2, 1-1 GAC) to just 17 points in the second half and 21 percent shooting.
After shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first half, coach Dorris lit a fire under his team at halftime as they responded by shooting 58 percent in the second half to fuel their comeback. Adrienne Berry led the way in scoring for SNU as she finished with 17 points and knocked down 3-of-6 shots from three-point range. Irene Perez posted 10 points, six assists, and two steals while Alexus Jones finished with five points, six rebounds, and six assists. The spark igniting the comeback was from Abby Niehues off the Storm bench. She tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, and an impressive five blocks.
Much like the season opener, Southern Nazarene struggled in the first quarter. They shot just 4-of-14 from field, but forced five UAM turnovers. Things were beginning to look dismal for the Storm in the second quarter, as the Blossoms opened the period on a 16-0 run to push their lead to 30-12, their biggest lead of the game. SNU closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 32-20 deficit into halftime.
Southern Nazarene came out firing in the third quarter as they went on a 16-0 run, fueled by a couple of buckets each from Berry and Perez. The Storm continued to pour it on as they outscored the Blossoms 25-7 in the quarter to take a 45-39 lead into the fourth.
Both teams traded buckets to start the fourth, and that's when Niehues came alive. All four of her blocks came in the fourth quarter, as UAM shot just 21 percent in the period. Niehues also added six points on a couple of beautiful passes from Perez. Madeline Schroepfer knocked down two free-throws with 1:47 to play to give SNU a 55-47 lead as the Storm cruised the rest of the way.
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