Women's Basketball: IU East 64, IU Kokomo 62

RICHMOND, Ind. - The Indiana University East women's basketball team celebrated coach Alexa Welborn's birthday with a 64-62 comeback win over IU Kokomo on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

With the win on Lingle Court, IU East is 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the River States Conference. IU Kokomo is 3-3 and 0-1.

IU East struggled early in the contest scoring for the first time at the 7:31 mark of the opening period as Kenzie Hudgen made it 6-2. By the end of the first quarter, IU Kokomo built a 22-8 advantage.

The Red Wolves came to life in the second quarter as Tia Tolbert led the charge with 10 of her team-high 16 points coming in the period. IU East outscored the Cougars 20-9 as the Red Wolves cut their deficit to 31-28 at the intermission.

"We started out slow and had pretty low energy," Tolbert said. "Coach got in our ears to start the second quarter and we were able to step up and use each other's energy to fight back. We knew we were the better team and showed it after the first quarter."

In the third quarter, Trinity Archey's layup with 2:19 remining finally tied the game at 40-40 as the Red Wolves fought their way back.

The battle continued in the final stanza as neither team could pull away.

A 3-pointer by Kennedy Griffin with 14.8 seconds left gave the Red Wolves the lead for good at 63-62. It was her only basket on the night.

IU Kokomo turned the ball over on its next possession, which allowed Hudgen to convert on one of two free throws with seven seconds on the clock.

The Cougars were unable to get a quality shot attempt as the buzzer sounded and the Red Wolves finished with the win. 

In addition to Tolbert, IU East had three others in double digits.

Davina Smith had 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Archey and Taylor Farris each added 10 points.

Next up for the Red Wolves is a trip to St. Mary-of-the-Woods College on Saturday, Dec. 2. The RSC affair begins at 1 p.m.