Box Score (PDF)EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Playing on the second straight night against a Division I opponent, the Truman Women's Basketball team stayed with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville before falling 67-60 in their final exhibition game.
Courtney Strait,
Kasey Gassensmith and
Ashley Hartwig each scored 10 points for the Bulldogs.
There were three ties and four lead changes before the Cougars raced out to a 17-point lead. The Bulldogs reeled the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason top team back in during the second half. Early in the fourth quarter Hartwig connected on a triple and
Rachel Steinhoff dropped in a jumper to force a timeout.
Truman shot 38% from the floor and rained in eight triples. They only turned the ball over 10 times compared to the SIUE 14.
Gassensmith hit her first four shots on the night and joined Strait with 10 points apiece. Hartwig connected on a couple of triples to join the seniors in double figures. Michalina
Tomczak was 3-of-5 from the field for nine points Strait also had seven assists.
The OVC's preseason Player of the Year, Shronda Butts finished with game high honors of 24 points in 33 minutes of work.
The Bulldogs will open the regular season next Saturday facing Grand Valley (Mich.) State as part of the Midwest Region Challenge hosted by Quincy (Ill.) University.
