ELSAH, IL – After five games on the road to start the season, the Principia women's basketball team finally held their home opener on Thursday as they welcomed SLIAC rival Spalding University to Hay Field House. Despite blowing a 15-point second half lead, the Panthers held strong with some clutch buckets at the end of the game to secure a 57-53 victory for their second conference win of the season.
The first half a back-and-forth battle with neither team leading by more than three over the final 15 minutes of the half. Principia went into halftime up by just two, but they came back determined to improve their play as they stormed out on a 13-0 run to begin the second half. Spalding cut the deficit to eight by the end of the third quarter, but the Panthers pushed the lead back to 11 with 5:41 to play. Over the next four minutes, the Golden Eagles fought hard and clawed their way back by going on a 12-1 run to tie the game at 51 with 90 seconds remaining.
Genesis Santiago grabbed an important offensive rebound on the next possession and then made a big shot to retake the lead 53-51.
Ariana Williams followed that up by stealing the ball from Spalding and making a lay up to put Principia up by four. After Spalding cut the lead back to two,
Taylor Brown made two clutch free throws with 22 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Principia was led by junior transfer
Lamiya Terrell, who had her best game of the season with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 steals.
Trinniti Matthews returned from a one game injury absence and made her mark with 10 points, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.
Ariana Williams almost had another double-double as she finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds, as well as 5 steals of her own.
The Panthers have a quick turnaround as they will head to Eureka College for a 1:00 pm tip on Saturday in what will be their last conference matchup of 2024.
