Box Score
The Pioneers ran their win streak to 11 with a tough 63-61 victory at CMU on Saturday. Neither team had an easy time scoring in the first half as MNU shot 27% and CMU shot 35% and the Pioneers trailed 24-23 heading to the locker room. The second half opened up a bit as teams traded buckets, but CMU took a 6-point lead with 12 minutes to go.
Kelsey Balcom hit back-to-back jumpers to get MNU back within 2, but the Pioneers still trailed by 1 with 3 minutes to go. That's when
Rachel Boan took over. The senior had had a tough game to that point, picking up 4 fouls and 4 turnovers to just 4 points in 12 minutes.
"The team kept telling me to be aggressive," said Boan. "After I got my 4th foul, I was so determined to not let that stop me from being agressive." Boan nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to give MNU the lead. It was the first successful 3-pointer for the Pioneers, after missing their first 12. Boan then recorded a steal, another bucket, a defensive rebound, and 2 free throws to give MNU a 4-point lead.
"The team seriously would not stop telling me to be aggressive," added Boan. "They ingrained it in my mind that no matter my foul situation, I was not to stop."
But CMU didn't go away, and the game was tied with 17 seconds to play.
Navia Palu was fouled and nailed both ends of a 1-and-1, then Boan picked up another steal on the ensuing possession. Palu hit 2 more clutch free throws to ice the game, and MNU escaped with the victory.
Kelsey Balcom led the way with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Navia Palu had a career-high 12 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. And Boan was 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the line for 11 points and 2 steals.
The #5 Pioneers are 14-1 (7-0). The next game is Thursday at Avila (4-11, 2-5) at 5:30.
