History has to wait one more game for Beyer as Comets top Euts

(Photo courtesy of Makenzie Ness)

ST. LOUIS, MO - The Cottey Comets wanted to make sure they were not in town for a history-making night for UHSP as the Comets got out of St. Louis with a 72-64 win over the Eutectics. UHSP's Grace Beyer entered the night needing 54 points to become the all-time career leading scorer in NAIA history. After scoring 40 on Thursday against the Comets, Beyer now stands 14 away from history which will now likely come on Saturday.

It was a 25-15 second quarter that gave the Comets some separation as they led 42-29 at the half. The Comets led 17-14 after the first quarter and it was still tight through the majority of the second. Beyer, who scored 21 of the teams points at intermission, made it a five-point game at 31-26 with 3:55 left in the half. Cottey converted a pair of free throws, a three pointer from Claudia Hadlock and three layups to outscore the Purple and Gold 11-3 through the final minutes of the second period.

Cottey continued to shred UHSP in the paint in the third quarter as they opened the period on a 14-2 run. Outside of free throws, the Comets got four layups and another Hadlock three en route to a 56-31 lead with 5:45 left in the third. Beyer hit a straight away three off an Elizabeth Allanach screen to put an end to the Comets run. The Eutectics got in inside of 20 with buckets from Caroliena Diaz and Allanach to make it 56-38 with just under four minutes left in the quarter. Samantha Matthews drilled a corner three before the clubs traded layups to make it a 60-45 game through three periods. Cottey was dominating the glass to the tune of 39-16 that resulted in the Comets getting 14 more FG's than UHSP through three.

The Eutectics managed to get it down to single digits in the fourth and still with enough time to give themselves a chance. Five early points from Beyer and two free throws from Diaz made it a ten-point game with 7:12 left. UHSP missed two chances over the ensuing 5:08 to cut it to single digits, but they finally succeeded with 2:04 left as Beyer drilled a three. After Sara Montesdeoca made a layup for Cottey, Allanach followed with another triple and it was an eight-point game with 1:16 left, but now time was a factor. The Eutectics never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

It was a substantial rebound advantage for the Comets that led to them squeezing off 15 more shots than the home club. UHSP managed only a single offensive rebound and got buried on the glass overall, 47-24. UHSP shot 42% from the field with CC just half a percentage point less. Neither team was all that efficient from perimeter, but the Eutectics were a little better. UHSP was 9-for-26 (34.6%) while the Comets struggled to go 4-of-15 (26.7%). UHSP was perfect at the line on 13 tries while Cottey was 14-for-17 (73.7%). Beyer added five rebounds and four assists to her 40-point performance. Allanach and Matthews each finished with eight points with the former adding nine boards and six helpers. Montesdeoca paced the Comets with 19 points and five boards while Sarah Hunt added 15 points. Cottey finished with four players in double figures.

Beyer will get one more crack at history in the regular season finale on Saturday when the Eutectics host Hannibal-LaGrange at 1pm at the UHSP Gymnasium. Beyer went for 29 points in an overtime road win over the Trojans back on Jan. 27 in the other regular season meeting with HLGU.