After starting the 2009-2010 campaign with 9 consecutive victories, the Warsaw Lady Tiger basketball team suffered their 2nd straight loss Tuesday night.

Warsaw seniors Kelci Freds and Sarah Shilling put the Lady Tigers in front early. Freds sank a 3 point bomb and Shilling scored inside for 2 points to put the Lady Tigers up 5-0.

After Marion stormed back with a 5-0 run of their own, senior guard Kaelee Sands scored the next four points for Warsaw. Sands hit from the top of the key and from the wing to put Warsaw up 9-5 with 3:42 left in the 1st period.

The Lady Giants closed the quarter with a 9-4 run to take a 1 point advantage.

End of 1st Quarter: Marion 14 - Warsaw 13

The second quarter would see both teams trading points (15 each). Warsaw shot 42% from the floor in the first half on 10 of 24 shooting. The Lady Tigers connected on 6 of 9 (67%) free throws for a total of 28 points.

The Marion Lady Giants converted 11 of 24 (46%) from the floor over the first 16 minutes of action. Marion shot a perfect 5 of 5 from the charity stripe for 29 first half points.

End of 2nd Quarter: Marion 29 - Warsaw 28

Let's just call the 3rd period the Marion Quarter. The Lady Giants would outscore Warsaw 23-13 in the frame to take an 11 point advantage. Marion often converted Lady Tiger turnovers into points.

End of 3rd Quarter: Marion 52 - Warsaw 41

Last chance for redemption - AKA the 4th quarter.

With 4:45 left in the game, Warsaw managed to close the gap to two points. Marion led 54-52.

Marion's two best players Laura Friday and Katrina Blackmon put together a 8-0 run to ice the game. The run put the Lady Giants back up 10 with less than 2 minutes to go. A pair of steals and 2 Kelci Freds free throws made it look like Warsaw had a shot. They closed within 4 approaching the minute mark, but in the end there just wasn't enough gas to make the push.

Laura Friday led all scorers with 29 points. Fellow Lady Giant, Katrina Blackmon added 28 for Marion.

Marion led in most statistics including 95% (18 for 19) from the charity stripe to Warsaw's 86% (19 of 22). Warsaw outscored Marion 18-4 in bench points. The single biggest stat effecting this game was points off of turnovers. Marion totaled 37 points off of 20 Lady Tiger mistakes while Warsaw scored 22 points off of Marion turnovers. That 15 point differential was the deciding factor tonight.

Final: Marion 72 - Warsaw 64

Complete Scoring for Warsaw:

Kelci Freds - 14, Kayla Stout - 14, Sarah Shilling - 9, Beth Plummer - 8, Lindsay Baker - 8, Kaelee Sands - 7, Cendall Ogle - 2, Ryesha Jackson -2

The Lady Tigers are now 9-2 on the season. They will host NLC foe Northridge Saturday night, January 9th @ 6:15pm in the Tiger Den.

Come out and support your Lady Tiger team as they look for their 10th victory in 12 attempts and their 3rd consecutive NLC victory. Warsaw is a perfect 2-0 in NLC action this year.

JV ACTION: The JV would tell a different tale. With Jennifer Walker-Crawford leading the trail with 18 points and Sarah Heagy's 12 more. Marion's almost all freshman squad couldn't keep up with the Lady Tigers. The Lady Giants statistically led in free throws (60% to 50%) plus led in rebounds 24-12 and had 13 points off the bench compared to Warsaw's 5. But in the end, Warsaw came out on top 46 - 29.

Complete coverage will be available here at www.tigersportsnation.com

Posted In: Girl's Sports > Basketball

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