Southwestern missed 8 of 9 free throws over the final eight minutes Monday to hinder the comeback attempt against Morristown in a Mid-Hoosier Conference girls basketball game.
After a third quarter where the host Spartans cut the lead to five at 29-24, Southwestern struggled to complete the rally and lost 38-32.
Gracie Laster hit a trio of three-pointers on the way to 13 points and Nevaeh Sanders was 9 of 10 from the free-throw line to match the senior with 13 points.
Raegan Kleine finished with eight points and Morristown improved to 9-7 overall and 2-1 in the MHC.
The Yellow Jackets built a 12-5 lead after one quarter as the Spartans’ free-throw difficulties started early. They missed 4 of 5 in the first quarter.
The lead was extended to 25-15 by halftime as Laster hit a pair of 3s in the second quarter.
Four different Spartans scored in the third quarter when they outscored the Yellow Jackets, 9-4. However, four different Spartans missed from the charity stripe in the fourth.
Alison Muck led Southwestern (7-8, 2-2 MHC) with 13 points. Lily Kerber finished with seven.
Southwestern was 7 of 23 from the free-throw line (30%).
Morristown won the junior varsity game, 52-20.
Nevaeh Cox made 14 field goals on the way to a game-high 29 points. Sarah Essex and Olivia Rude each had six.
Ellie Gosser topped Southwestern with seven points. Katelynn Coffman finished with five.
Both squads are in action tonight.
Southwestern hosts Lutheran (4-9) in a varsity-only contest at 6 p.m.
Morristown continues its MHC schedule hosting North Decatur (11-6, 1-1 MHC).
In another prep event Monday:
Gymnastics
Richmond 103.375, Shelbyville 84.575
At Shelbyville, Kaliyah Brown, Renee Aldridge and Faye-Lynn Voss finished in the top five in the all-around competition in the Golden Bears’ first meet of the season at Girls Inc. in Shelbyville.
Brown placed second in the vault (9.0) and third in the floor exercise (8.5) to secure a third-place finish in the all-around (30.825).
Voss was fifth on the balance beam and floor exercise to place fifth in the all-around.
Aldridge was fourth in the all-around.
Shelbyville will host Waldron Thursday.
