GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Southwestern Pirates and Colorado College put on a show for the annual Pink Out game, thrilling a packed house at the Robertson Center. Chelsea Leeder's layup left her hand as time expired to give SU the 80-79 win to take a half game lead over Colorado College for the top spot in the SCAC West.
Colorado College controlled the tip and the first two minutes of the game, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Southwestern then went on an 11-2 run and forced six Tiger turnovers to take the lead 13-8 with 13 minutes to go in the first half. Colorado took control a few minutes later, but it was Chelsea Leeder that put the exclamation point at the end of the period, scoring all seven of Southwestern's points in the final three minutes to send SU into the locker room up six, 37-31.
Transition layups allowed Colorado to close the gap and take a three point lead, 46-43, through the first five minutes of the second half. More points in transition allowed the Tigers to post their biggest lead of the game, seven points 54-47, with 12:32 remaining, forcing the Pirates into a timeout to stop the skid.
The game took on a harried pace not for the faint of heart as the clock ticked through the seven minute mark. Colorado retained a slight advantage, 63-60, but the Pirates were picking up steam through the combined post play of Jordan Owens and Annie Bourne.
Southwestern picked up full court and pulled within two points, 70-68, after a steal and layup by Valerie Logan with just under 4:30 to go.
Fareed entered the game with 3:41 on the clock and made an immediate impact, taking the ball coast to coast to give the Pirates the lead, 72-71, for the first time in the second half. The Tigers pushed back but second chance points kept Southwestern with a slight advantage, 78-75, with 1:39 to go.
A jumper by Sarah Gunkel at the free throw line at the one minute mark brought Colorado College within one point 78-77.
The Tigers locked down offensively and forced the Pirates into an off-balance three pointer as the shot clock expired, giving CC a chance at the win.
Courtney Tyus took the inbounds pass and pushed the ball all the way to the basket but Owens striped her as she went up. Leeder was tied up on the defensive rebound with seven seconds to go, the possession arrow in the Tigers' favor.
After defending the inbounds play well Southwestern lost track of Sarah Gunkel under the basket, giving her an open look at the block for the win. Owens came across the lane and went for the block but fouled her in the process putting Gunkel on the line for two free throws with a chance to win the game with three seconds remaining. She hit both to give the Tigers a one point advantage, 79-78 with three seconds left.
Southwestern took a timeout to plan their attack and executed it perfectly. Bourne threw a perfect baseball pass to Leeder just beyond half court. Leeder put her head down and attacked the hoop and hit the layup in traffic with one-tenth of a second on the clock, to the dismay of the Tigers.
SU shot just 30.4% from the floor, 24.1% from three point range, but committed just 12 turnovers while forcing 23. The Pirates also made more free throws than the Tigers attempted, scoring nine more points from the charity stripe.
Fareed led the charge for Southwestern with 18 points. Leeder was right behind with 17 points and Bourne following her with 16. Owens racked up 14 points. Becky Luetjen and Gunkel led all scorers with 19 points each.
Southwestern moved to 11-11 on the season and 7-5 in the conference while Colorado falls to 12-11 on the year, 8-6 in the SCAC. The Pirates remain at home on Saturday to take on third place Hendrix College for senior night.