Taylor Ties IUP Three-Point Record but Indians Fall Short Against West Chester

Complete game stats

Kara Taylor tied an IUP single game record with six three-pointers en route to a game-high 22 points, but it was not enought to prevent the Indians from dropping a 71-66 overtime game at West Chester Wednesday night.

The loss was the third in a row for IUP, which saw its record even at 5-5 on the year.  West Chester improved to 6-4.

Taylor tied the mark first established by Bridget Adams against Slippery Rock in 1995.  After being held without a field goal the previous night against Kutztown, Taylor nailed 6 of 10 from long distance, including five in the second half and overtime.

Julie Gallo came off the bench to add 13 points for IUP.  Molly Miller and Katie Glaws both scored nine points, with Miller adding 10 rebounds.  The Indians made a total of 11 three-point field goals in the game, the fourth highest single game total in school history.

Kiesha Mack paced West Chester with 19 points, but the All-PSAC East guard was held to just 5 for 17 shooting from the floor.  Also hitting double figures for the Golden Rams were Staci O'Byle with 14, Dominique Deveaux with 13 and Malinda Fife with 10.

Justine Pfaff led all rebounders with 12 while Elise McCloy grabbed 10.

The game was tied at 63 at the end of regulation, and West Chester scored the first four points of overtime on two free throws by Deveaux and a basket by Mack. 

Taylor's final three-pointer of the night pulled IUP to within 67-66 with 1:25 left, but that would be the only points the Indians would score in the extra session.  IUP made only 1 of 11 field goal tries in the five-minute period.

IUP had a couple of chances to retake the lead but turned the ball over twice.  The Golden Rams put the game away on two charity tosses each by O'Byle and Mack in the final 32 seconds.

The Indians had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation after Miller stole Alexis Norman's inbounds pass and was fouled by Mack with six seconds left.  But Miller misfired on the front end of the 1-and-1 to send the game into overtime.

Taylor had given IUP a 63-60 lead with a three-pointer with 1:15 left, but Deveaux answered 24 seconds later to retie the contest.

IUP trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half but battled back to pull into a 33-33 tie with 16:30 left in the game on the second of four Taylor three-pointers during the second half. 

The Indians took their first lead of the game at 36-35 on a three by Mame Brumbaugh, but a rare four-point play by Mack put West Chester back in front.  IUP then went on a 15-6 run that seemingly put the visitors in control of the game.

Taylor tied it with yet another three-pointer with 14 minutes left to tie the contest at 39.  A free throw by Miller and field goals by Courtnay Rattigan, Gallo and Taylor gave IUP a 46-42 lead. 

Mack was fouled attempting a three-pointer and hit each free throw to make it a one-point game before a three-point play by Gallo and a Lauren Fisher steal and layup made it 51-45 with 10:15 remaining.

An O'Byle basket capped a 11-5 West Chester run that tied the game at 56.  Miller quickly put IUP back in front with a three, and the Indians maintained the lead until an O'Byle layup tied it at 60 with 1:38 remaining.

IUP is off until January 4 when Charleston visits Memorial Field House for a 5:30 contest.  The Indians host Mansfield and East Stroudsburg in a pair of crossover games January 8 and 9.  Both of those games begin at 1:00.