New Orleans, LA - In a closely contested game, Dillard narrowly defeated Philander Smith (AR) with a final score of 53-52.
The first quarter saw Dillard take an early lead, outscoring Philander Smith 15-11. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with Philander Smith shooting just 34.8% from the field and Dillard shooting 38.2%. Kimberlynn Washington led Philander Smith with 15 points, while Cassidy Lowe led Dillard with 16 points.
The second quarter remained competitive, with Philander Smith outscoring Dillard 12-10. Elaijha Brown contributed 13 points for Philander Smith, while Jordyn Rowe added 11 points for Dillard.
After halftime, Philander Smith continued to hold a slim lead, outscoring Dillard 16-8 in the third quarter. Dasia Turner had a strong performance for Philander Smith, finishing the game with 10 points and seven rebounds. However, Dillard's Sydni John-Baptiste stepped up in the fourth quarter, scoring six points and grabbing nine rebounds to help the Bleu Devils. The game would be decided by a last-second free throw by Jordyn Rowe, who has been having her best collegiate season to date.
Both teams struggled with turnovers throughout the game, with Philander Smith committing 19 turnovers and Dillard committing 14. However, Dillard's strong defensive effort, led by Erika Diaz with five assists and two steals, proved crucial in the final outcome.
Overall, it was a hard-fought game between two evenly matched-teams. Dillard's ability to capitalize on their defensive efforts and make key plays in the fourth quarter ultimately led them to victory. Dillard will look to build off their conference win as they travel to the University of Mobile in the coming week. This will be another challenge for the Bleu Devils, as they fell to the Rams earlier this season.
