Bryant Keys Hastings' Late 13-0 Run to Beat Northwestern

(Hastings, NE) – After defeating the Red Raiders at home 11 days ago, the 18th-ranked Hastings Broncos trailed 67-64 with 4:19 remaining on Wednesday night, but a 13-0 run led by three triples by junior Macy Bryant punched their ticket to the GPAC semifinals, winning 81-70 in the end.

In the first quarter, junior Mariyah Avila splashed a three to the delight of the crowd to begin the contest. Northwestern went on a 10-2 run to take an early five-point lead three minutes in. Sophomore Rachel Goodon scored inside off of an offensive rebound and sophomore Tathis Arredondo drilled a three to tie it at 10. Off the bench, sophomore Bailey Kissinger gave Hastings a three-point lead with a basket and a free throw at the 4:41 mark. 

The Red Raiders again took the momentum, building a 20-17 advantage that included a couple of threes. Avila drained another three, this time late in the shot clock by the Northwestern bench, to tie it at 20 with 1:37 left in the first. Near the end of the quarter, Avila rebounded her own miss and kicked it out for an Arredondo three to put Hastings up, 23-21, after one.

The second quarter brought more defense, as Northwestern managed to tie it up at 25 with 8:16 to go. Trailing by one, senior Kiernan Paulk grabbed a missed three-pointer and put it back up and in. Following a Red Raider basket, senior Alyssa Baker stepped to the line and made two, then an Avila steal in the backcourt set up Arredondo for two, to go up 33-30 with 5:23 left in the half.

Northwestern went on a 5-0 run, Kissinger took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for a lefty layup finish to tie it at 35-all at the 2:54 mark. With Northwestern leading 37-35, Kissinger got into the paint and kicked out to a trailing Bryant for a triple. A couple Red Raider free throws put them up 39-38 at the break.

Hastings was held to 34 percent shooting at the half, but held Northwestern to 40 percent and forced nine turnovers. Kissinger had nine points to lead Hastings in scoring, along with eight from Arredondo.

Just like the first half, Avila stepped into a three to put the Broncos ahead, 41-39, on their first possession of the second half. She made a crafty pivot move in the paint, scoring with her left hand, to put the Broncos up four with 7:51 left in the third. The Red Raiders fought back, scoring the next eight points to go up 51-47 with 4:48 to go.

Kissinger broke the scoring drought by cleaning up the glass and laying it in, then after a Northwestern turnover, freshman Ann Bose drained a three from Kissinger to put Hastings back up one. However, the Red Raiders bounced back and later went up four on a three from the top of the key with 1:20 left in the third quarter. Arredondo converted a three-point play to cut it to one going to the fourth, 60-59.

Goodon tied it up at the line to begin the scoring in the fourth, but both defenses stepped up to the challenge, as only five points were scored in the first four minutes of the period. Northwestern managed to score inside and make a free throw to go up 65-62 with 5:29 remaining. Freshman McKenna Yates penetrated and slithered her way for two, and after a layup from the Red Raiders, Bryant drained two three-pointers from the top of the key to put Hastings ahead, 70-67, with 3:24 left.

After a missed Red Raider three, Kissinger raced it up the court and drew a foul, splitting a pair at the line. Hastings forced a shot clock violation the next defensive trip with the help of a loud student section and Paulk knocked down a corner three to push the lead to seven with 1:35 remaining.

Northwestern missed another three on their next trip and Bryant drilled a dagger three with 40 seconds left to go up 10 to cap the 13-0 run. A Red Raider free throw brought it back to nine momentarily, but Kissinger made two from the line, as Hastings moved on to the GPAC semifinals with an 81-70 win.

Hastings was held to 34 percent shooting, but made 11 threes, including four during the 13-0 run. Northwestern was held to 10 fourth quarter points, shooting 24 percent in the quarter without making a three. Both teams grabbed 51 rebounds, while Hastings forced 19 turnovers to their 10 for the game. Hastings also won the bench point battle convincingly, 32-6.

Bryant, who had all nine of her second half points in the last four minutes or so, finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Kissinger led the team with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Avila had 11 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Arredondo had 11 points and three rebounds.

Up next, Hastings will travel to Sioux Center to take on #1 Dordt in the GPAC semifinals on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 2pm. The Broncos beat the Defenders last time out for their first loss, one of only two losses this season.