As was the case throughout their season-opening six-game losing streak, the Southern Utah women's basketball team found itself in a familiar position at halftime Tuesday.
They trailed their opponent again, but this time, the T-Birds refused to wilt.
Freshman Jadie Parsons scored 14 points, including a pair of crucial free throws with 54.6 seconds remaining that helped Southern Utah seal a 56-53 victory over Ohio University before a small crowd at the Centrum.
"Our coach made it clear to come out and shoot on fire so we wouldn't dig a hole," said Parsons, who gave SUU a 54-53 lead with her only free throws of the game.
"There was a lot of pressure, but I had to just get my legs into the shot and play defense."
Fellow freshman Chanel Thorley added 13 points for the T-Birds and Challis Pascucci added 12, including two free throws that completed the scoring with 2.9 seconds to play.
"When we saw we were down (at the half), we didn't want to go through what we've been going through again," Pascucci said. "Everyone wanted this one bad."
"Christmas came early for everyone," said T-Birds coach J.R. Payne, who picked up her first win. "These kids have been working so hard, this is their reward."
SUU (1-6) trailed 28-25 at the half, but Pascucci scored on consecutive possessions to spark an 11-2 T-Bird run that helped them take a 40-34 lead with 11:01 left. The Bobcats (2-3) stayed close and moved back in front at 53-50 when Jenny Poff, who led all scorers with 16 points, hit two free throws with 1:55 to play.
They would be the Bobcats' final points of the game.
"They played well and inspired and we didn't. (Southern Utah) did an excellent job," Bobcats coach Semeka Randall said.
Nine seconds after Poff, Cassie Burgess hit two free throws that pulled SUU back within a point. After Tina Fisher missed two at the other end, Parsons followed up her own miss and got fouled to set up the go-ahead free throws.
As a team, SUU was 13-of-14 from the line.
Following a turnover by Mann, Parsons missed a jumper and the Bobcats had a final chance to tie with 9.9 seconds left. Poff never got a good look on her drive to the basket, and Pascucci grabbed the rebound while getting fouled.
When the final horn sounded, the T-Birds kept up an extra bounce in their step as they happily cheered heading to the locker room.
"Knocking down shots early was huge for us," Payne said. "We finally put two halves together with an assertive attitude."
Burgess hit two 3-pointers in the early going and SUU built an 8-2 lead while holding Ohio to a single field goal in the first 6 1/2 minutes. The Bobcats then went on a 20-4 tear to move in front and keep the lead until the break.
(Patrick Cummings/ The Spectrum a)
