Jackets Lose Heartbreaker to Avila in HAAC Championship
Kansas City, MO -The women's basketball team traveled to Avila University Monday looking for its first-ever HAAC women's basketball tournament championship.
In front of a huge crowd in Kansas City, the Jackets battled it out with the Eagles in a seesaw game throughout. Eventually however, Avila would finish in front with a 74-70 victory over the Jackets.
Graceland played an outstanding first half and led the Eagles, 37-30 as the two teams headed into locker room. The Jackets would continue to hold the lead until 12 minutes to play when Avila hit a series of three pointers that put them in front, 47-46. The Jackets would battle back from the deficit to tie it up at 66 a piece with 2:25 to go in the second half but it would not be enough as Avila continued to pour on the pressure all the way to the end.
Despite the final score, several Jackets had outstanding games led by junior guard Josilyn Wilkes' (Kirbyville, TX) who finished with 21 points. Florida Siaosi (Apple Valley, CA) was a force in the frontcourt for the Yellowjackets with a double-double in the game, scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Kelsey Quirarte (Independence, MO) contributed 12 points along with 8 points from Adria Jackson (Artesia, CA) and 7 points from Jamie Whitfield (Houston, TX).
Head Coach Rich Harrop described tonight's loss as, "Heartbreaking because we are good enough to win and we had the confidence to come down here and win." He continued, "We had a spot in the game where we hit a wall and missed shots at one end and made errors at the other. On defense Josilyn and Adria did a good job containing the number one shooter in the conference and Florida did a superb job inside." He finished by saying, " It happened to be at inopportune times when we would not convert but the overall effort was fantastic and I am so proud of the way the ladies responded tonight."
Graceland finished the season 16-16 overall and recorded its first .500 or better season since 2003. The future of the women's basketball program looks bright as the Jackets will return all of their current players but one to next season's squad.
In front of a huge crowd in Kansas City, the Jackets battled it out with the Eagles in a seesaw game throughout. Eventually however, Avila would finish in front with a 74-70 victory over the Jackets.
Graceland played an outstanding first half and led the Eagles, 37-30 as the two teams headed into locker room. The Jackets would continue to hold the lead until 12 minutes to play when Avila hit a series of three pointers that put them in front, 47-46. The Jackets would battle back from the deficit to tie it up at 66 a piece with 2:25 to go in the second half but it would not be enough as Avila continued to pour on the pressure all the way to the end.
Despite the final score, several Jackets had outstanding games led by junior guard Josilyn Wilkes' (Kirbyville, TX) who finished with 21 points. Florida Siaosi (Apple Valley, CA) was a force in the frontcourt for the Yellowjackets with a double-double in the game, scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Kelsey Quirarte (Independence, MO) contributed 12 points along with 8 points from Adria Jackson (Artesia, CA) and 7 points from Jamie Whitfield (Houston, TX).
Head Coach Rich Harrop described tonight's loss as, "Heartbreaking because we are good enough to win and we had the confidence to come down here and win." He continued, "We had a spot in the game where we hit a wall and missed shots at one end and made errors at the other. On defense Josilyn and Adria did a good job containing the number one shooter in the conference and Florida did a superb job inside." He finished by saying, " It happened to be at inopportune times when we would not convert but the overall effort was fantastic and I am so proud of the way the ladies responded tonight."
Graceland finished the season 16-16 overall and recorded its first .500 or better season since 2003. The future of the women's basketball program looks bright as the Jackets will return all of their current players but one to next season's squad.