Lady Greyhounds Just Miss Upset at #14 SAU Tech

The Lady Greyhounds battled to the end but just couldn't overcome the #14 ranked SAU Tech Lady Rockets, falling 52-51 Thursday night at Rocket Gymnasium in East Camden, Arkansas.

Leading 26-21 at the half, ASU Mid-South used a staunch defense to keep the Lady Rockets at bay. But in the third quarter, SAU Tech began their comeback and narrowed the Lady Greyhound lead to 40-38 entering the fourth period. But even after giving up the lead and trailing 51-44 inside of a minute left to play, the Lady Greyhounds never quit as Aryah Hazley hit for a traditional three-point play, and then got fouled and hit two free throws on the ensuing possession to cut the Lady Rocket lead to 51-49 with 16 seconds left. Then after fouling to stop the clock, SAU Tech hit 1-of-2 free throws to give ASU Mid-South the ball with 15.2 seconds left. Then with the clock ticking down, Quintasia Leatherwood got off the shot just before the buzzer sounded and it hit nothing but net, but the officials ruled she had one foot on the three-point line which gave SAU Tech the one-point win.

The Greyhounds shot just 38.0% from the field and 16.7% from the three-point line while giving up 17 offensive rebounds and turning it over 25 times. But the ASU Mid-South defense held the Lady Rockets to only 26.3% shooting from the field, and SAU Tech managed only 17-of-28 (60.7%) from the free throw line to the Lady Greyhounds' 11-of-13 (84.6%). 

Aryah Hazley led the Lady Greyhounds with 24 points while pulling down 5 rebounds and collecting 3 steals. Quintasia Leatherwood and Isabela Leal both chipped in 6 points each with Leatherwood finishing with team-highs of 4 assists and 4 steals. Jazzmen Robinson came off the bench to snag a game-high 7 rebounds to go with 2 points.

The Lady Greyhounds (14-8, 4-3) next host UA Cossatot Saturday at 2:00pm with the men's game to follow at 4:00pm.

2022-23 NJCAA Region 2 Women's Basketball Standings