Balanced Scoring Lifts Women's Basketball to Road Win

Doane Women's Basketball started the 2023 year with a back-and-forth battle with Midland on Wednesday evening. The Tigers trailed before the game even tipped off but would come back quickly to take the lead and go on to post an 89-83 win.

An administrative technical was given to the Tigers to start the game as the starters were not submitted in time and the Warriors made both free throws to take a 2-0 lead before the tipoff. Doane responded with a 12-2 run to take the early lead. The Tigers would push their lead to 11 points but an 8-0 run by the Warriors would cut into the lead and Doane would hold a 19-15 lead at the quarter break.

In the 2nd quarter, scoring was tough to come by early on. Doane would use a 9-3 run in the middle of the quarter to take a 28-20 lead. The Warriors countered with a 10-0 run to regain the lead, 30-28. The Tigers scored the next four points to go back in front only to have Midland score four straight points to take a two-point lead with seven seconds left in the quarter. Doane pushed the ball up court and Macy Holtz hit a 10-foot jumper to tie the game, 34-all, heading into halftime.

The Tigers owned the opening nine minutes of the 3rd quarter, first scoring 12 straight points for a 46-34 lead. Doane pushed the lead to 17 points, 65-48, with 1:31 to play in the quarter. The Warriors, specifically Sam Shepard, caught fire in the last minute as she scored seven of the team's points in a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to eight points, 65-57, heading into the final 10 minutes.

With 6:05 to play in the game, Midland cut the Tigers lead to a single basket, 71-69, following a 4-0 run. Doane answered with Rylie Rice scoring on three consecutive possessions, giving the Tigers an 8-2 run to push the lead back to eight points. Midland countered with an 8-0 run to tie the game, 79-all, with 2:34 to play.

Holtz scored four points in a 6-0 Tiger run to regain the lead. Doane finished the game with a 10-4 scoring advantage over the final 2:21 of play.

Mak Hatcliff led the Tigers with 21 points on the night as she pushed for a triple-double. She added nine rebounds and seven assists in the game. Hatcliff had six offensive rebounds which accounted for nine of her points plus she had an assist on a Holtz 3-point basket. Megan Chambers finished with 20 points on 10-of-11 shooting, tying a school record for field goal percentage in a game with a minimum of 10 made shots. She added nine rebounds.

Holtz added 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists with Rice adding 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Olivia Nall carried the Tigers early on with six of her 10 points coming in the opening four minutes of play.

Doane shot 57-percent (35-of-61) from the floor for the game and 33-percent (4-of-12) from behind the arc. The Tigers hit 63-percent (15-of-24) at the free throw line. The Warriors shot 37-percent (27-of-58) from the floor while hitting on 37-percent (10-of-27) from behind the arc and 90-percent (19-of-21) at the free throw line. Offensive rebounding proved to be the difference in the game where the Tigers held a 23-9 scoring advantage in second chance points.

Midland received 19 points from Sam Shepard and 18 points from Emma Shepard. Lexi Kraft and Asia Bryant added 11 points apiece.

Next up for the Tigers will be a trip to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on No. 22 Briar Cliff. Tipoff is set for 2 PM on Saturday, January 7.