PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A last-second shot dashed Bates’ dreams as the Bobcats lost to Wartburg College 54-53 in the third round of the NCAA Division III national tournament Friday on the campus of Rhode Island College.
Macy Harris was the hero for the Knights (28-2), who inbounded the ball with less than five seconds left. The ball eventually made its way to Harris, who drove to the basket before stopping and lofting up the game-winning shot just before the buzzer.
The officials huddled together to discuss if there was any time left on the clock after the shot went in. They settled on 0.1 seconds remaining, but that was only enough time for Bates to try and inbound the ball the length of the court, which resulted in an intercepted pass that killed the final tick of the clock.
The Bobcats (24-6) led for much of the game but found themselves trailing in the closing minutes. Senior Morgan Kennedy made three consecutive shots to give Bates the lead back and stretch it to 53-50.
Wartburg drew within 53-52 on Jaedon Murphy’s layup with 11 seconds left, then the Bobcats missed two free throws with a chance to extend the lead. That set the Knights up with a chance to win the game, and Harris converted.
Kennedy finished with a game-high 17 points, freshman Sarah Hughes poured in 15 and sophomore Elsa Daulerio added 10 for Bates. The Bobcats were just 2 for 9 from the foul line, while the Knights went 3 for 9.
Murphy led Wartburg with 14 points and Harris had 13.
A GOOD START
Bates jumped out to a 17-9 lead after one quarter, only to have that advantage all but fizzle in the second period when Wartburg countered with a 15-9 scoring disparity.
The Bobcats stretched that three-point halftime lead to a 40-34 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Kennedy’s basket 20 seconds into the final frame made it an eight-point lead, but the Knights rallied to take the lead four minutes later.
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