Salisbury, N.C. – No. 13 Anderson University women's basketball team could not overcome a season-high 29 turnovers, which resulted in 23 Indian points, dropping the highly anticipated South Atlantic Conference road contest, 70-58, to Catawba on Wednesday evening at Goodman Gymnasium.
With the setback, Anderson slips to 14-3 overall and 9-2 in SAC play, while the Indians improve to 15-1 overall and a league best 10-1 in conference action.
Senior Alexy Mollenhauer recorded her ninth double-double of the season scoring a team-high 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Freshman McKenzie Gadson chipped in 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, as the only other Trojan to reach double-digit scoring. Senior Amari Grevious came off the bench to pull down eight rebounds with three being on the offensive glass.
Catawba placed four players in double figures with Lyrik Thorne scoring a game-high 18 points. Taisha DeShazo and Shemya Stanback netted 13 points apiece while starting guard Madison Hallman contributed 10 points for the Indians.
Catawba won each of the first three quarters, of the up tempo contest, by one point in each stanza to lead by three heading into the final quarter, 44-41.
Each time the Indians tried to pull away, AU would step up and hit a big shot to keep the game within reach. Junior Alexis Tate answered Stanbeck's layup with a three-point basket to pull the game back within two with 8:35 to go. AU Gadson's layup tied the game, 46-46, with 7:40 left with Gadson hitting a three-point shot with just under five minutes to play to pull Anderson back within four. Catawba's Janiya Brown's layup pushed the lead back to six, before senior Madison Baggett cut the lead to four one last time on a made layup with 3:14 left in the contest. The Indians maintained their distance, eventually increasing the margin when the Black and Gold was forced to foul. Catawba made 10-of-12 foul shots in the final minute of action to seal the victory and take hold of first place in the SAC standings.
"I thought defensively we played solid tonight, said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "We did give up to many offensive boards at key times. With that said, we didn't take care of the basketball when we needed to the most. We'll get back at it tomorrow as we prepare to play everyone for the second go around."
Anderson returns to the friendly confines of the Abney Athletic Center to welcome SAC opponent UVA-Wise on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm.
