For more information contact: Dan Nolan 309-457-2322, dnolan@monmouthcollege.edu
Men
Monmouth’s postseason plans will have to wait after Tuesday’s 76-72 overtime loss at Cornell.
The Scots led 42-32 at halftime, but a Rams’ rally in the second half came to fruition on a game-tying bucket-and-one with nine seconds left to force overtime. Monmouth led for most of the game, but the Rams fought back in the second half, briefly taking a one-point lead midway through the half. Knotted at 55-all with 11:15 to play, D.J. Swift hit for two of his 17 points to open a 9-2 run. Alec Hayes followed Swift’s bucket as the Scots began to roll. Nate Schroeder’s pair of buckets ensued as the bread around a Trevor Davis layup, moving the Scots to a 64-57 lead with just under six minutes to play.
The Rams countered with their own run in the final five minutes, cutting the margin to a single possession with 2:34 to play. Trailing 66-63, the Rams burned a timeout at the 1:08 mark and eventually earned the old-fashioned three-point play to force OT when Monmouth’s last-second tip-in missed the mark.
Cornell took advantage in the extra session, scoring the first bucket and never trailing to drop the Scots into a tie with Grinnell for the final MWC berth. Four teams – Monmouth, Grinnell, Cornell and Lake Forest are all still vying for two berths. The Scots and Pioneers each have one game remaining. The Rams and Foresters meet in a makeup game Thursday prior to Saturday’s regular season finale.
If the Fighting Scots are to punch their third straight Midwest Conference Tournament berth outright, they’ll have to knock off St. Norbert on the final day of the regular season for the second straight year or take their chances in a possible multi-team tie for the final spot. Saturday’s tipoff at St. Norbert is set for 1 p.m.
Women
In the driver’s seat just last week, the Fighting Scots have traded places with Ripon following Monmouth’s 70-65 loss at Cornell and the Red Hawks’ convincing win over Lake Forest Tuesday night, moving Ripon into first and the Scots second with a game to play.
Cornell jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead and never trailed on their home court despite Monmouth staying within striking distance until late in the first half and nearly completing the comeback in the final seconds. Tarae Warner canned a 3-pointer and Carley Turnbull scored two points on her way to a 22-point night in the final 2:06 of the first quarter to pull within five at 15-10 as the period wound down. The Rams caught fire midway through the second period and used an 18-8 run to open up a 37-21 halftime lead.
Monmouth chipped away in the second half, nearly erasing the deficit in the game’s final four minutes. A Warner bucket-and-one with 3:52 to play pulled the Scots to 60-58 as Monmouth kept it a one possession game down the stretch. A Becca Gallis layup with 28 seconds left made it a 66-65 game before the Rams hit four straight free throws in the final 26 seconds to ice the game.
Tuesday’s outcomes which included a Knox win over Illinois College set the Midwest Conference Tournament field with only the seeds yet to be decided. Cornell, the only qualifier with two games to play, will be at Lake Forest Thursday and Beloit Saturday. Ripon will host Knox needing a win to clinch the MWC title. The Scots travel to St. Norbert and would need a win coupled with a Ripon loss to take their first regular season crown in program history. While the Scots and Red Hawks are battling for first, the Rams and Prairie Fire are vying for the third seed.
Monmouth will tip off against the Green Knights Saturday at 3p.m.
***Report Courtesy of Monmouth College***
