Trailing Bethlehem by nine points entering halftime, Owensboro Catholic quickly saw their deficit balloon to 15 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter. On the cusp of a blowout, the Lady Aces showed an intensity missing in the first half – responding with a 10-0 run to enter the fourth trailing 40-38.
In the fourth quarter, Owensboro Catholic had their share of opportunities to take the lead, but continued to come up empty – eventually falling 53-50 to end their All-A tournament run.
“We had no intensity to start the game,” Owensboro Catholic head coach Michael Robertson said. “We didn’t come out with any intensity in the first half. We walked around. I thought we would pass once then shoot. We were really lethargic and I don’t understand that. When we got after them in the second half and acted really aggressive, good things happened.”
The Lady Aces scored 17 points in the first half on 8-28 field goal shooting. They had no answer early for Notre Dame commit Leah Macey, who finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
Owensboro Catholic found their spark in the third quarter thanks to shooting 4-5 from deep and 8-14 from the floor. The tide completely for the Lady Aces changed when Sophia Newby subbed in halfway through the third quarter. The freshman quickly hit a three at the top of the arc, before immediately picking off an errant pass – then feeding a cutting teammate to the basket for a layup.
In the fourth quarter, Newby subbed back in and like clockwork, stole another pass and answered with a contested layup. She finished with seven points, six rebounds, and four steals.
“Sophia was great today,” Robertson said. “We probably need to find more minutes for her. She’s been very consistent, producing, and doing what we need of her. She played a heck of a game today.”
Trailing by two with 30 seconds left, the Lady Aces intentionally fouled to send Bethlehem to the line. Missing both free throws, it seemed everything was falling Owensboro Catholic’s way – then Leah Macey secured the biggest rebound of the game for the Banshees. In one fluid motion, she went back up for the layup and a four point lead.
“Big time players make big time plays and that’s what she did,” Robertson said.
Unfazed, the Lady Aces Taylor Mannahan responded with a step back three to cut the lead to one with 14 seconds left. Owensboro Catholic quickly fouled Bethlehem again, who made both of their ensuing free throws to push the lead to three.
With 12 seconds left and a chance to tie, the Lady Aces were unable to respond, dropping a heartbreaker.
Karmin Riley led the Lady Aces in scoring with 15 points, adding three assists, one steal, and one rebound. Aubrey Randolph finished with nine points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
