KIRKSVILLE – Tiffany Davenport blocked Antoinette Mussorici’s tying three-point attempt at the buzzer and #2 Truman Women survived to advance to the Great Lakes Valley Conference semifinals with a 76-73 victory over #7 Maryville on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs opened the game up 14-4 and had a 10-point lead at 70-60 with just under five minutes to play but Maryville melted the lead away down the stretch.
A Mussorici three cut the lead to 72-69 with 1:43 left to play.
Ellie Weltha responded right back with a hoop and after a Saints turnover and a Truman miss from three, Jayda Jansen scored with 43 seconds left to make it a one possession game at 74-71.
Hannah Belanger hit the backend of a two-shot free throw attempt but Jansen hit both her attempts with 11 ticks showing to keep in tight.
Belanger missed both attempts on the next possession but Katey Klucking secured the offensive rebound in a battle down low and was awarded two more attempts. She would only make one of two to keep Maryville alive.
In the final sequence, the ball made it to Mussorici’s hands and her step back three was knocked away by Davenport.
Katie Jaseckas continued her dominance over the Saints. She scored a game-high 25 points with 15 rebounds and was 5-of-8 from long range. Jaseckas had averaged over 20 points in the last four encounters with the Saints. Jasekcas added four blocked shots.
Weltha finished 12 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists while Belanger hit her average of 19 points.
Jansen led Maryville in scoring with 23 points.
Truman moves on to face #7 William Jewell on Saturday in Springfield, Missouri on the campus of Drury University. Jewell advanced to the semifinals without playing a game as #3 seed Southern Indiana withdrew from the tournament due to COVID concerns. Game time will be set on Thursday.