A shorthanded Allen Community College women’s squad had things clicking early on. THE START was much brighter for the Red Devils. Allen drained five 3-pointers in the first half, while Tabor was a frigid 1 of 11.
The Red Devils, which suited up only eight players, led visiting Tabor’s junior varsity by 11 points midway through the second half.
But untimely turnovers and missed free throws proved costly.
Tabor got back into the game with a 19-4 run, to lead by four.
Allen tied the game up at 54-54 before both teams missed golden opportunities to secure the win down the stretch.
Allen went 0-3 from the line in the game’s final minute, while Tabor missed a wide open lay-up at the buzzer that would have given the Bluejays the win in regulation.
Instead, Tabor took control with a six-point run late in overtime to secure a 70-64 win.
The loss spoiled a phenomenal night from ACC sophomore forward Kylie Molisee, who scored 22 points and grabbed 21 rebounds.
The defeat also dropped the Red Devils to 4-5 on the season. Allen is idle this week for Thanksgiving and will return to action Dec. 3 at home against Fort Scott.
“Too many turnovers, missed free throws and mistakes,” Allen head coach Katie Mahoney said. “We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had.”
Foul trouble hurt. Allen lost the services of starting point guard Nicole Salazar with 1:53 left in overtime, shortly after she found Molisee for an easy basket inside to give ACC its final lead of the game at 60-59.
But Tabor’s Dani Dowell hit both free throws after Salazar’s exit to put the Blue Jays back on top 61-60.
The Red Devils missed on 3-pointers on their next two possessions while Tabor drained two free throws and a field goal to lead 65-60.
Molisee’s putback followed by Kailey Cleaver’s free throws briefly pulled Allen within 66-64, but Tabor drained four straight charities in the last 20 seconds to secure the win.
The Bluejays were 20 of 25 from the line, while Allen was 9 of 13. Three misses came late in regulation. Reagan McClellan missed two after being knocked down on a hard foul on her lay-up attempt with 1:34 left in the second half. She again was fouled while diving for the ball with 52 seconds left in regulation, again pulling herself off the floor for the free throw attempt, which missed.
Dowell’s overtime free throws offered a bit of retribution after she missed on her potential game-winning lay-up as the buzzer sounded in regulation.
The Red Devils led 35-25 at the break. Cleaver’s lay-up with 12 1/2 minutes left put Allen on top 46-35.
But things went south from there. Tabor heated up from outside, hitting 7 of 19 3-pointers after intermission, to climb back into the game. The Bluejays took their first lead, 51-50, as part of a 14-0 run.
Allen trailed 54-50 when Molisee scored on a putback to cut the gap to two. Salazar’s bucket lay-up tied it at 54-44. McClellan jumper on the next possession gave Allen a 56-54 lead.
Dowell scored to tie the game at 56-56, setting up the dramatic finish.
“We weren’t really expecting our offense to go through Kylie, but she showed everybody what she was capable of tonight,” Mahoney said. “She played very well.”
Salazar added 13 points and five assists. Cleaver and Rebecca Fisher each scored eight points.
The Red Devils were without the services of Erika Essman, who has missed two straight games with a knee injury. O’Ceonna Watson also was held out of the game (coach’s decision).
Two other players, Jameeshia Armstrong and Briana Barrett, have been dismissed from the team for violating team rules, Mahoney said.
Tabor (25-31-14—70)
Allen (35-21-8—64)
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Salazar 3/2-1-5-13, Hancock, 3-2-2-8, Fisher 1/2-0-2-8, Molisee 10-2-4-22, Shelton 0-0-4-0, McClellan 1-2-0-2, Cleaver 2-4-5-8, Stevens 0/1-0-0-3. TOTALS: 20/5-9-24-64.
Allen women falter late in OT loss
