Tribunes fall to Owens, claim fourth place
The Express prevail 79-76 in overtime.
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - The Monroe Community College women's basketball team finished in fourth place at the 2015 NJCAA national tournament after a 79-76 overtime loss to Owens Community College Saturday.
The Lady Tribunes finish the season with a 28-3 record.
The game featured two evenly matched squads, and the lead never reached double digits for either team.
MCC took a 71-66 lead with 1:49 left in regulation after a pair of free throws from Kiki Bynes. Owens responded with a three-point play, and after a Tribune missed shot, the Express converted a pair of foul shots with 1:17 left to tie the game at 71.
Owens missed on its ensuing possession and Bailey Hixson came down with the rebound. The Tribunes had a pair of chances as the clock winded down but couldn't convert and the game went to overtime.
Rose Ayala gave MCC a two-point lead halfway through the extra session on a short jumper. After Owens reclaimed the lead on a three-point play, Ayala tied it at 74 with a free throw.
MCC then committed a foul on the next possession. Owens went 1-of-2, but corralled the rebound on the second shot. Adre'onia Coleman fouled out for the Tribunes on the play, a sequence that proved costly as Coleman had been responsible for 27 points to that point.
The Express converted both free throws to take a 77-74 lead.
Tyese Purvis answered for Monroe with a driving layup with 58 seconds left. MCC then forced a shot clock violation and had a chance for a final shot, but it was off the mark and Owens secured the loose ball.
The Express hit two free throws with 3.2 seconds left, and then picked off Monroe's inbounds pass to clinch the win.
Coleman was an unstoppable force once again for Monroe. The freshman forward finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the tournament. Bailey Hixson added 15 points and Deja Carroll had 11 points and six rebounds. Bynes dished out 10 assists.