Fourth-Quarter Comeback Sends Ravens to HCAC Championship Game

The sixth-seeded Anderson University women's basketball team is headed to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Championship game after pulling off a comeback and defeating the second-seeded Bluffton University Beavers 68-63 in the HCAC Semifinals on Friday.

Anderson (12-14) trailed Bluffton (19-7) by a score of 53-46 entering the fourth quarter and the Ravens outscored the Beavers 22-10 in the fourth quarter. The victory sends Anderson into the HCAC Championship game, their first appearance back in 14 years. During the 2007-2008 season, Anderson fell just short in the HCAC Championship game to the Manchester University Spartans 52-50.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bluffton opened up the contest with the first basket by Brianna Gillig with 9 minutes, 47 seconds left on the clock. Anderson quickly got on the board, using just 16 seconds to get the ball down the court and hand it off to Allison Shaffer for a layup.
• Anderson held a quick lead at 8:21 when Jade Shipley made a free throw to put Anderson up 5-4. The lead didn't last long though as the Beavers took the ball down the court to make a jump shot and take a 6-5 lead over the Ravens.
• Bluffton then built a slight lead over the Ravens, going up 13-9 with 5:14 left in the first quarter. Then, between 5:13 and 3:01, both teams would go on a scoreless streak.
• The Ravens got the buckets going once again with 3:00 on the clock when Makynlee Taylor made a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game. With 2:28 on the clock, Cassie Pallett went to the line and made both of her free throws to put the Ravens up 14-13.
• The final basket of the first quarter came in favor of the Beavers as Peyton Henry hit a 3-pointer to give Bluffton a 16-14 lead over Anderson.
• Second quarter action saw the Beavers slowly build on their lead over the Ravens. Bluffton began the quarter with a 10-2 run over the Ravens to go up 26-16 with 7:19 on the clock. Dellinger brought the Ravens within five with a jump shot followed by a three.
• Anderson was able to cut the deficit some more before the end of the quarter with some crucial 3-pointers and free throws.
• Heading into halftime Bluffton led Anderson 37-31.
• Lexi Dellinger opened up the third quarter with a lay-up. Brianna Gillig went down the court to add a layup of her own for Bluffton. Dellinger wasted no time to hit a jump shot. Makynlee Taylor followed with a free throw at 7:58 to bring the Ravens with three as they trailed the Beavers 39-36.
• Both sides faced a scoreless streak between 7:57 and 4:57. Payton Moore broke the streak with a jump shot at 4:56. Lexi Dellinger then gave the Ravens the lead at 4:32 left in the quarter as she made a layup to give Anderson a one-point, 40-39 lead.
• The game then became a quick back-and-forth battle as both sides looked to take control of the game. Bluffton ultimately grabbed the lead as Brianna Gillig went off to make the Beavers next six points followed by a Maddie Fitzpatrick three to give Bluffton a 50-42 lead with 1:21 left in the quarter.
• As the Ravens and Beavers headed into the final quarter of action, Bluffton led Anderson 53-46.
• Anderson started off with the baskets, coming with three after a Makynlee Taylor layup and a Lexi Dellinger jump shot.
• The Ravens took their first lead of the quarter at 6:17 on the clock off a Payton Moore jump shot to make it a 56-55 game. After a Bluffton jump shot to give the Beavers a one-point lead, Moore responded with yet another jump shot, turning the game back in favor of the Ravens.
• Another scoreless streak that lasted from 5:34 to 3:46. A battle followed from both sides as the final minutes were approaching as Anderson looked to hold onto their lead and Bluffton fought to give it all they had to stay within reach.
• At 3:34 Lexi Dellinger added a jump shot to the Ravens scoresheet to give Anderson a 60-57 lead. Bluffton tied up the game almost a minute later with a jump shot by Maddie Fitzpatrick before Dellinger quickly responded with a layup to put the Ravens back up. At 2:26 Anderson led Bluffton 62-60.
• In the closing minute, Bluffton's Brianna Gillig fought to keep them in the game as she put the Beavers within one on two different occasions.
• With 18 seconds left on the clock, Lexi Dellinger went to the free-throw line and made both of her baskets to stretch the Ravens lead to 66-63.
• Senior Payton Moore secured the Ravens victory when she was sent to the free-throw line with eight seconds on the clock and nailed both of her free throws to give the Anderson Ravens a 68-63 victory over the Bluffton Beavers.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Anderson recorded 25-of-58 (43.1 percent) of its shots from the field, 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) behind the arc, and made 13-of-19 (68.4 percent) in free throws while holding Bluffton to 23-of-65 (35.4 percent), 5-of-23 (21.7 percent), and 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) respectively.
• The Ravens outrebounded the Beavers 40-37. Anderson also held a 28-22 advantage in points in the paint.
• Senior Lexi Dellinger led the Ravens to victory with a 23-point game. Dellinger added on four rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
• Coming off the bench, senior Payton Moore put up a double-double, recording 20 points, 15 rebounds during the contest.
• Makynlee Taylor closed out the double-digit scoring with 12 points. Taylor contributed seven rebounds, two steals, and one block in the Ravens victory.

COACH JON GIN'S COMMENTS

• It was an incredible night for our team. We executed the game plan really well and it was awesome to see. Everyone on the team gave a full 40 minutes of work, from the players on the bench to those on the court.
• It was great having Payton [Moore] back for the first time since her injury. She really stepped up and led the team so well. Her gutting it out inspired the whole team.
• Lexi [Dellinger], Jade [Shipley] and Cassie [Pallett] really set the tone for us on offense from the tip. They kept attacking the paint and set up our offense really effectively.

POST-GAME INTERVIEW

The HCAC conducted a postgame interview with head coach Jon Gin and seniors Lexi Dellinger, Payton Moore and Cassie Pallett, which can be seen here.

UP NEXT

Anderson now turns its focus towards the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship game. In a quick turnaround, the Ravens will take on the top-seeded No. 4 ranked Transylvania University Pioneers (23-0) on Saturday in Lexington. Transylvania is ranked No. 2 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll and No. 4 in the latest D3hoops.com poll. Tipoff between the Ravens and Pioneers is scheduled for 6PM.