Kansas City, Mo.– <br/>The tears dripping down the Wildcats' faces after the game pretty much said it all.The tears dripping down the Wildcats' faces after the game pretty much said it all.
The tears dripping down the Wildcats’ faces after the game pretty much said it all.
They said the team had lost – after the most valiant of efforts – in the first round of the Heart of America Athletic Conference tournament Wednesday to Avila University, 65-62.
What those tears didn’t say was the story of how the Wildcats (9-11, 15-15) got to that season-ending defeat.
Baker made No. 3-seeded Avila (15-5, 23-6) fight and scratch all the way to the game’s ultra-dramatic finish.
The opening moments of the game went better than according to plan.
Not only were the Wildcats able to go blow-for-blow with the Eagles, but they also were able to take Ashley Townsend, the HAAC Player of the Year, out of the game.
The Wildcats went right at Townsend early, causing her to pick up two fouls just four minutes into the game.
She rode the pine the rest of the half to ensure she was able to get some minutes in the second half.
Good move.
The teams went back and forth in the first half as neither team could muster a significant advantage.
Avila was up 13-7 before Baker fired off an 8-0 run – thanks to some strong shooting from senior captain Hannah Eagleman – to regain the lead for the ‘Cats.
Eagleman finished with eight points on two-of-three shooting.
Junior Jenna Brantley provided a nice spark off the bench for the ‘Cats in the first half as she buried two jumpers on her first two touches.
Baker went into the locker room down just five, 34-29.
The second half meant the return of Townsend.
Shouts of “MVP” rained down from the rafters nearly every time she touched the ball, but the Wildcats defense – particularly sophomore Audrey Bryant – was up to the challenge.
Avila maintained a slim advantage for the first 15 minutes of the second half until Baker turned up the heat on defense.
The ‘Cats created turnovers on two consecutive possessions just under the seven-minute mark and freshman Gloria Atanmo capitalized, nailing a turn-around fade-away to give BU its first lead of the half, 51-50.
The last two minutes were a roller coaster ride of emotions for the Wildcats as they built a 5-0 run to give themselves the biggest lead of the game, 60-51.
Avila fought its way back, however, and stole the lead back with 26.1 seconds left.
Completely undeterred by the 62-60 deficit, sophomore Aubree Gustin went hard to the paint on the next possession and got fouled during a lay up.
The ball nuzzled all parts of the rim before barely falling out, causing the Baker bench to collectively throw up its hands and curse the ball gods.
With the Avila crowd going ballistic, the sophomore coolly drained both of her free throws to tie the game with 11 seconds left.
“Those were big!” senior guard Kendra Schaefer said after the game. “I was talking to Kaitlin (Schneden) about how bad we needed them. It was amazing, especially with the crowd and her being just a sophomore.”
With just 2.7 seconds remaining, the Eagles went to the only logical player they could go to with the season on the line.
Townsend – who scored a quiet 14 points – scored three screamingly loud points after she swished a desperation shot that ended the Wildcats’ season.
“I think that’s the best we have ever collectively played,” Eagleman said. “We had energy and all the momentum. When we were up nine, it was almost surreal. Then they made a run. It just slipped between our fingers.”
Head coach Susan Decker said she was beyond proud of her squad.
“I think our kids really deserved to win (Wednesday), they really played their guts out,” she said. “We showed some heart and character. What an effort from everybody involved.”
