Bethune-Cookman’s comeback falls three points shy at FIU, 54-51

_{title image via Romeo T. Guzman/ BCU Athletics}

Courtesy of BCU Athletics

51

BCU

54

Winner FIU

A furious Bethune-Cookman rally fell just short Sunday afternoon as the Wildcats fell away to Florida International, 54-51 in nonconference women’s basketball action inside Ocean Bank Convocation Center. In the loss, BCU saw its four-game winning streak snapped.
 
Trailing 45-30 entering the fourth quarter, Bethune-Cookman (4-3) outscored FIU by a margin of 21-9 over the final 10 minutes of play.
 
After FIU (5-4) pushed its lead to 47-30 with 9:29 remaining in the game, BCU began a 12-0 run on the strength of a D’Shantae Edwards driving layup. With Kerrighan Dunnscoring off a Panthers turnover, Edwards took control and scored the next five points for the Cats in cutting the deficit at 47-40. Kayla Clark’s layup moments later capped the run and BCU was within 47-42 with 3:26 showing on the clock.
 
FIU’s Courtney Prenger cut to the hole for a layup to extend the lead for the hosts at 49-42 with 2:28 left.
 
But another Edwards driving layup and back-to-back free throws from the Dallastown, Pennsylvania native was immediately followed by a Chanel Wilson jumper to knot the game at 49-all with less than a minute to go.
 
Edwards poured in 11 of her 18 points for the game in the final quarter.
 
The Wildcats secured their first lead of the afternoon with 15 seconds to go as Wilson sliced through the lane for two of her 10 points in the contest.
 
It took the Panthers just four seconds to tie the game at 51-51 when Henderson stuck in the layup and drew contact for the and-one opportunity. She would convert the free throw to give FIU the lead back, 52-51 with 11 ticks remaining.
 
A turnover off the pass from Karianna Woods resulted in FIU getting the ball back and using Kaliah Henderson’s pair of free throws to seal the game.
 
FIU ran out to an early double-digit lead as the Panthers shot 50 percent from the field in the opening stanza. BCU would shoot just 31.8 percent from the field in the first half, turning the ball over 14 times and leading to 12 FIU points off those miscues. BCU scored just five points in the first quarter but outscored the Panthers in two of the final three periods.
 
However, Janell Crayton‘s side bounced back to shoot 58.3 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, limiting the Panthers to just 27.3 percent over that span.
 
FIU was led in scoring by Henderson and Prenger with 10 points apiece.
 
BCU was steered by Edwards’ career-high 18-point night as she connected on four field goals, adding a 10 for 17 showing from the foul line. She also grabbed in six steals. Wilson provided 10 points. And it was Clark hauling down a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Cats look to rebound Saturday, Dec. 9, when BCU hosts Warner (Fla.) to Moore Gymnasium at 2 p.m.