GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern fell 71-58 to Wheaton College in the second game of the Southwestern Holiday Classic despite four players scoring double digits. The loss drops the Pirates to 6-5 on the year.
Turnovers cost the Pirates in the early part of the first half as Wheaton pulled ahead by nine, 16-7, with nine minutes to play in the half. Poor free throw shooting by the Thunder, 11.1% from the charity stripe, and a perfect free throw percentage by SU allowed the Pirates to hang close despite the 11 turnovers.
Chelsea Leeder's three pointer followed by a layup by Jordan Owens in transition after Nancy Juarez's (pictured) steal gave Southwestern their first lead of the game, 20-18 with 4:18 to go in the half. Turnovers and fouls once again cost the Pirates the lead as Wheaton began to convert from the line, making their last four to take a 28-25 lead into halftime.
The Thunder stormed out of the halftime break, opening on a 10-0 run, to go ahead by 13, 38-25 three minutes into the second half. Southwestern chipped away at the lead with an 8-0 run of their own to pull within five, 38-43, but Wheaton pulled ahead by double digits once again and led by 11, 60-49, with just under seven minutes to play.
Southwestern pulled within six points, 60-54, one minute later but then stalled offensively as the Thunder pulled away to the 71-58 final.
Owens led for SU with 16 points on 4-9 shooting from the field, 8-8 from the free throw line. Annie Bourne posted her third double-double of the year with 11 points and a game high 10 rebounds. Chelsea Leeder added in 11 points and Katelyn Bartell contributed 10. Wheaton's Brooke Olson led all scorers with 19 points.
As a team Southwestern shot 32.7% from the floor while Wheaton was 46% from the field. Both teams went 7-19 from long range while SU made nine more free throws despite taking three fewer. Each team recorded 40 rebounds in the game but the Pirates committed 25 turnovers, 10 unforced, while Wheaton committed 21.
The Pirates remain at home for the final game of the Classic, playing Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 7pm on Thursday night. UWEC defeated Trinity 81-34 in the first game of the day.
