South Bend, Ind. – Taking a two-point lead just seconds into the second half, Judson University (8-13) lost their lead when Indiana-South Bend (15-7) went on an 18-6 run over seven minutes en route to 54-47 win over the Eagles. The loss snaps Judson’s two game winning streak.
Kirstin Johns led all scorers with 13 points while Kelly Friestad and Alicia Rovertoni had 12 points each. Eva Commons and Abbey Freeman had 11 points for IUSB. Rovertoni led JU with eight rebounds.
Friestad hit Judson’s only three-pointer of the game just 36 seconds into the second half to take a two-point lead, 26-24. From that point, IUSB went on an 18-6 run to take an 11-point lead. IUSB tied the game at 26 on two free throws and then Freeman hit a three-pointer to take a three-point lead, 29-26.
Judson cut the lead back to one when Friestad hit one-of-two from the free throw line at 18:15 and then just over a minute later she tied the game at 29 with 17:07 left in the game. IUSB scored the next six points while JU missed their next three shots over a three-minute span. By the 12:00 minute mark, IUSB had their largest lead of the game at 11, 42-31.
JU did come back to within five, 48-43, with 5:21 to go on a Rovertoni layup but that is as close as the Eagles would come to IUSB.
The first half saw four ties and the only JU lead came on the opening bucket. IUSB had a six-point lead, 22-16, with 4:19 left in the half but JU went on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to one, 23-22, at the half.
Judson had a hard time finding the hoop as they shot 29% from the floor, 8% from three-point range, and 66% from the free throw line. IUSB finished 36% overall, 26% from beyond the arc, and 68% from the stripe. IUSB played better defensively, too, forcing 11 turnovers with eight steals. JU only had two steals. IUSB also out rebounded JU, 45-36.
Judson will continue their road trip on Thursday as they travel to Bourbonnais, Ill., to take on Olivet Nazarene University at 5:30 p.m.
