PULASKI, Tenn. – In its first game of the 2014 calendar year, the Martin Methodist Women's Basketball team erased an early deficit but dropped a heartbreaking 70-65 contest to Calumet College (Ind.) of St. Joseph Saturday afternoon in the Curry Christian Life Center.
The loss marked the first in nearly two months for the RedHawks (10-3), who played their first NAIA contest since Dec. 7.
Playing against a scrappy Crimson Wave bunch, the RedHawks slumped offensively to start the contest, sinking just 7-of-29 shots in the game's opening 20 minutes. As result, the RedHawks found themselves trailing 31-24 at the halftime break.
In the second half, however, the RedHawks would slowly chip away at the Crimson Wave lead. After falling behind by 10 points with 17:56 left in regulation, the RedHawks would erase the deficit over the next six-plus minutes to tie the ballgame at 47-47 with 11:26 remaining.
From there, it briefly appeared as if the RedHawks would put away the Crimson Wave, but the Chicagoland Athletic Conference foe rallied from a seven-point deficit in the game's final nine minutes to tie the contest at 64-64 with 49 seconds left in regulation.
On the ensuing RedHawk possession, a RedHawk turnover led to Crimson Wave free throws and ultimately a 66-64 lead.
The RedHawks would again turn the ball over, but also forced a Crimson Wave turnover of their own for one final chance to tie the contest. Kyoko Wade's pass with 14 seconds left in the contest was intercepted and effectively ended the ballgame, however, as the RedHawks dropped its first ballgame of 2014.
The loss spoiled a superb night from RedHawk forward Kayla Beaty, who scored 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with a game-high 15 rebounds. The double-double marked the first of the junior's career in just her seventh game in a RedHawk uniform.
Kelsey Nowlin scored 17 points to lead the RedHawks in scoring, but needed 14 shots to do so. As a team, the RedHawks finished the game 24-of-71 from the floor and 1-of-10 from beyond the arc.
As a team, the RedHawks recorded 73 rebounds – the most in program history, breaking the previous record of 69 – set against St. Catharine (Ky.) on Oct. 29, 2011.
In addition to a cool shooting night, the RedHawks turned the ball over 26 times – the most in a game since a 30-turnover game against Oakwood (Ala.) earlier this season. The RedHawks forced just nine turnovers from the Crimson Wave (7-8), who shot just 35.6 percent from the floor. Rebecca Arredondo led the Crimson Wave with 24 points while Crystal Daniels added 19.
With the loss, the RedHawks saw their five-game winning streak come to an end. The last RedHawk loss came in overtime at Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) on Nov. 15.
The RedHawks return to action Jan. 10 when they return to conference action at Brenau (Ga.) University. The RedHawks will meet the Golden Tigers on Friday before traveling to take on Emmanuel (Ga.) College the following afternoon.
Tipoff in next Friday's contest is set for 4:30 p.m. in Gainesville, Ga.
