Lady Bulldogs Hold Off Neoga Comeback

After scoring 20 points in the first three quarters, the Neoga Lady Indians scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to make for an exciting finish.  However, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs withheld the comeback by the Indians to post a 44-40 victory.  The contest at the Enlow Center was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

Neoga led in the early minutes of the game before St. Anthony went on a run to take a 12-8 lead at the end of the first period.  The middle two quarters were a struggle, with St. Anthony outscoring Neoga 17-12 in the two periods combined to take a 29-20 lead heading into the final period.

Neoga's E.C. Thies hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter, though, and that seemed to light a fire under the Indians who came from 12 down to pull within two midway through the final period.  St. Anthony regrouped then, getting a three-pointer of their own from Kate Richards to help right the ship.  Neoga outscored St. Anthony 20-15 in the final quarter, but the Bulldogs hung on for the four-point win.

St. Anthony made 36% of their shots, 14 of 39, while Neoga made 37% of their attempts, 15 of 41.  St. Anthony had 26 foul shots but only made 14 of them while Neoga went seven of nine at the line.  The Bulldogs committed 14 turnovers to 16 for Neoga and the Bulldogs outrebounded Neoga 31-24.  Neoga made three of 12 three-point shots while St. Anthony hit on two of five attempts.

Makayla Walsh scored 14 points to lead St. Anthony, while Kate Richards scored eight...all in the fourth quarter...Megan Nuxoll six with seven rebounds, Lexie Niebrugge five, Maggie Mumm and Hunter Niebrugge four each and Lauren Wendt three.  Melissa Bushur did not play due to an illness.

E.C. Thies led the way for Neoga and all scorers with 16 points while Jillian Deters scored 14 points, Madison Butler five, Olivia Ott four, and Stephanie Roderick one.

St. Anthony improved to 12-7 on the season while Neoga fell to 6-13.  Both teams head for action next week at the Effingham High School Girls Round-Robin Tournament.

St. Anthony won the JV game 49-21.  Hunter Niebrugge with 15 points and Samantha Brandenburger with 11 points paced the St. Anthony attack.