Box Score FORT WAYNE, IND. - Despite a breakout performance by junior Lola Bracy, the University of Evansville women's basketball team fell to Purdue Fort Wayne, 67-64, on the road in non-conference action in Fort Wayne, Ind.
In her first game for the Aces, Bracy scored a team-best 25 points, pouring in 16 of them in the first half. Also finishing in double-figures for Evansville were freshman Abby Feit with 16 points and redshirt junior Jada Poland with 14 points. The Mastodons were led by Hannah Albrecht, who recorded a game-high 30 points.
Evansville found itself in an early hole as the Mastodons gained a 9-2 advantage with under seven minutes left in the opening stanza. The Aces battled back with a 9-3 run, as freshman Abby Feit had six of Evansville's opening nine points. Evansville gained its first lead of the game with less than a minute remaining in the quarter as Bracy splashed in a triple to put UE in front 17-16. Just before the quarter buzzer, Purdue Fort Wayne's Hannah Albrecht hit a three to give the Mastodons back a 19-17 lead.
It came up Aces in the second quarter as Evansville dominated much of the period. The Aces built their lead as large as 11 on two separate occasions before taking a 34-27 lead to the break. In the second period, Bracy again scored eight points for Evansville as UE shot 50% (8-16) from the field, scoring 14 of their 17 points in the quarter inside the paint.
Box Score (PDF)
Evansville's lead continued to grow in the second half as the Aces saw their advantage swell as large as 12 at 49-37 with 4:30 left in the third quarter. Following a technical foul that was assessed to Evansville, Purdue Fort Wayne mounted a furious rally. The Mastodons scored 14-straight points to take a 51-49 lead before the Aces got a basket to end the quarter and tie the game at 51.
The Aces again took the lead in the fourth quarter, this time pushing its lead to five at 59-54. But once again, the Mastodons had an answer, scoring nine unanswered points to take a 63-59 lead. Evansville battled back, mounting a 5-0 run to retake the lead at 64-63 with just one minute remaining. Following the Aces retaking the lead, Albrecht hit a three-pointer that sent Purdue Fort Wayne back in-front on what would prove to be the game-winning basket. The Aces twice had opportunities down-the-stretch, including a late steal and three-point attempt that missed off front iron in the Aces' 67-64 loss.
In the game, Evansville both out-shot and out-rebounded the Mastodons, but 21 Aces' turnover proved costly.
The Aces are back in action on Sunday with a trip to take on Big Ten foe Illinois at 2 PM in Champaign, Illinois.
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