Midway, Ky. – The Midway University women's basketball team returned to action today when they opened play in the Zweifel/Pritchett Classic by playing Shawnee State (Ohio) at Asbury (Ky.) in Wilmore, Kentucky.

The Eagles cut the lead to seven, 76-69, with just under four minutes remaining, but the Bears (6-0) closed the game on a 16-2 run to pull away late and defeat the Eagles 92-71.

Junior, Courtney Pfister (Mt. Washington, Ky.) led four Eagles in double figures with 18 points. Patrice Tonge (Lebanon, Ky.) added 13, while Jasmine Johnson (Liberty, Ky.) and Breanna Ball (Dayton, Ohio) poured in 11 points apiece.

The Eagles (1-3) lost the rebounding advantage 48-37, but the duo of Johnson and Rachel Carter (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) led Midway in rebounding grabbing seven boards apiece.

Midway was plagued by another slow start as Shawnee State pounced on the Eagles in the first period. The Bears raced out to a 21-8 lead after the first quarter.

In the second stanza, a three by Pfister cut the lead to 30-22 midway through the period, but the Bears built their lead back up to 19, 49-30, heading into the locker room.

The Eagles came out firing on all cylinders in the third period as they outscored the Bears 24-17 over the ten minutes. Midway opened the frame on a 14-1 run to cut the deficit to 50-44. Back-to-back triples by Johnson cut the deficit to 55-52, but the Bears closed the period on an 11-2 run to take a 66-54 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Eagles had the lead down to as little at seven in the final 10 minutes, but they couldn't get any closer as the Bears came away with the 92-71 win.

The Bears place four players in double figures led by Jonessa Moore, who led all scorers with 32 points.

Midway is back in action tomorrow when they take on Central Christian (Mo.) at noon in the final game of the Zweifel/Pritchett Classic.

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