AUSTIN, Texas – Reece Sandercock held a block party tying the Southwestern University women's basketball single-game record with eight blocks as the Pirates dropped a 59-42 decision at Concordia on Tuesday evening.
Sandercock's eight blocks are equal to the amount she had in a game last season at Austin College as well as the previous record-holder Staley Mullins in a game against Hendrix on Feb. 4, 2011.
A 6:05 scoreless stretch in the first quarter was too much to overcome for the Pirates as Aniyah Burke scored the first points of the game for either team when she converted a three-pointer off an assist from Emily Edwards at the 7:57 mark of the opening quarter.
Concordia (2-3) would reel off the next 10 points before Akyra Hodges' free throw at the 1:52 mark to end the scoring drought.
Southwestern (2-4) would in fact go more than a full quarter between made field goals as Sandercock's jumper, which was also assisted by Edwards, at the 7:42 mark in the second quarter ended a 0-for-14 stretch that would see the Tornadoes extended their lead out to as much as 23-6.
The Pirates, however, continued to show a scrappiness that will eventually pay dividends with the strong will to continue to battle through scoreless streaks and eventually would go on a 6-0 run their own over 1:08 of game action thanks to a layup from Sandercock and a pair of made baskets from Hodges to cut the deficit down to 25-12.
Down 34-14 early in the third quarter, the rowdy Southwestern faithful that made the trip to Concordia Fieldhouse would see their team continue to battle as a layup from Sanercock was sandwiched between a trio of free throws from Hallie Mayfield brought the Concordia lead down to 34-19.
Concordia won the previous meeting this season 60-41 between the two teams with the key statistic to point out between the two contests as being very similar is the success rate at which the Tornadoes converted from long range.
In the first meeting, Concordia was 10-for-25 for 40 percent while Southwestern was just 2-for-16 for 12.5 percent.
Tonight's game would see the Tornadoes go 7-for-15 (46.7 percent) compared to 2-of--25 (eight percent) that the Pirates made.
Southwestern closed out the game on a 15-7 run that included seven straight points from Kaila Hamilton.
Sandercock narrowly missed the illusive triple double as she finished the night with eight points, eight blocks and 10 rebounds.
Hodges led the way scoring for Southwestern with nine points.
UP NEXT
Southwestern will have little time to prepare for its next opponent as Dallas Christian College comes to town tomorrow having played 10 games but has an 0-4 record with six of their previous contests being listed as exhibitions. Tipoff between the Crusaders and Pirates is slated for 5:30 p.m. CST.
