After pulling away in the third quarter the Lumberjack women's basketball team would survive a 4th quarter rally from the Miles Community College Pioneers Wednesday night. The Jacks would hold on to win 82-81.
The first two quarters saw very little separation with nine ties and five lead changes in the first twenty minutes of play. At halftime DCB held a 44-43 lead over the Pioneers. A two headed attack from Amari Butler had 16 points and chipped in Kiara Comeaux 11 to lead the Jacks offensive attack.
The Lumberjacks came out firing on both ends of the floor a 13-4 run over the first seven minutes of the third quarter to pull away. The Jacks offensive attack was led by Rozalind Strong who scored 9 points in the quarter. On the defensive side of the ball DCB forced 8 turnovers including 6 steals. At the end of the third quarter the Jacks held a 62-53 lead. The Pioneers didn't go away quietly as in the early going of the fourth quarter MCC went on a 12-2 run to take the lead at 65-64. As the quarter would progress the Pioneers would stretch their lead to four points at 72-68. Down the stretch the teams would trade baskets and neither team would be able to grab the momentum. Four steals in the quarter from Comeaux would prove to be pivotal in the final minutes. A free throw by Butler with 41 seconds remaining would give DCB a 79-78 lead. On the ensuing Pioneer possession DCB would get the required stop and leave MCC with no choice, but to foul. Comeaux would miss both free throws, but Hanna Plumbtree would pull down a huge offensive rebound and immediately be fouled. Plumbtree hit the first free throw but missed the second to give DCB a 80-78 lead with 21.6 seconds remaining. The Lumberjacks would force another MCC turnover and Comeaux would connect on both free throws to put DCB up two possessions with just 11 seconds remaining. The Pioneers would knock down a 3 to cut the Lumberjack lead to one at 82-81. The Jacks would be able to get the ball in and dribble out the remaining four seconds to pick up the win. The win gave the Jacks the season sweep of the Pioneers.
Butler led four Lumberjacks in double figures with 21 points, Plumbtree had another double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds Comeaux put in 17 points, and Strong finished with 13. Brae Eneboe led the Pioneers and all scorers with 22 points.
With the win DCB improves to 14-13 overall and 8-10 inside Mon-Dak play. The Lumberjacks hit the road for their final regular season road game Monday at NDSCS. Game time is set for 5:30p.m.