The Monmouth College women’s basketball team dropped a close contest on the road against the Cornell Rams on Thursday with a 58-51 final. The Scots (9-6, 6-3) and the Rams (10-5, 5-3) will meet again at Glennie Gym in 13 days.
The Scots scored the first bucket of the game as Zoie Wall (Peoria, Illinois) connected on a layup. Jordan Kintigh (Goshen, Indiana) scored on the next possession and the teams traded baskets for a 6-6 tie. Wall knocked down a 3-pointer and then Josie Morgan (Washington, Illinois) made one for a 15-9 Scots lead. Cornell cut into the lead with a basket and the Scots led 19-16 after the first quarter.
After a couple free throws from Kintigh, the Scots pushed the lead to seven at 28-21 on a basket from Kaitlyn Osmulski (Peoria, Illinois). But the Scots didn’t score over the final 6:02 of the half and went into the locker room with a 28-26 lead.
Cornell tied the game early in the third quarter before Osmulski hit a 3-pointer. Both teams had a lengthy scoring drought until Osmulski’s free throws with 1:16 left in the quarter put Monmouth up 39-37. Cornell scored on their next possession and the game was tied after three quarters.
Cornell took their first lead at 40-39 before Morgan’s layup tied the game at 41. The Rams went on a 9-0 run to lead 50-41 before Lily Harlan (Washington, Illinois) scored with 3:45 to play. Morgan hit a 3-pointer, as did Harlan, to get the Scots within one before Cornell scored again.
Monmouth missed a shot on the next possession and Cornell made two free throws for a 54-49 lead. Kintigh scored with 51 seconds left but that was the final basket for Monmouth. Cornell iced the game with four free throws to win 58-51.
Morgan led the Scots with 15 points and four assists while Kintigh had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Harlan had nine points and Osmulski had seven to go with three steals. The Scots play at Grinnell on Saturday with a 3 p.m. start and then host Grinnell at 3 p.m. Sunday.
***Recap and photo provided by Monmouth College Athletic Department***
