Mustangs tracked down by Pioneers

There were two things the University of Antelope Valley weren't bashful about Saturday afternoon.
 
Playing a frenzied style of basketball.
 
And, showing no reluctance to shoot the three.
 
Both of those conspired together as the Pioneers squeaked by The Master's University 68-64 on Bross Court.
 
The defeat snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped the Mustangs to 4-2.
 
"It's an extremely disappointing loss due to our lack of attention to detail," TMU head coach Dan Waldeck said.  "Credit to UAV as they played really well and shot it great from 3."
 
Indeed, the Pioneers did to the tune of 13 trifectas, the most by a Mustang opponent through the season's first six games.
 
Four of those treys, two from Ilianna Blanc, came in a first quarter that ended with the Pioneers leading 17-16.
 
The Mustangs countered UAV's long-range game with an inside job that featured freshman Stephanie Soares and teammates.
 
Soares tallied six of her nine first-half points in the second quarter, including a layup with 45 seconds left in the stanza that led to a 34-33 halftime lead.
 
TMU turned to three-point shooting in the third quarter and Tristen Coltom's trifecta with 1:19 left in the stanza gave the Mustangs a 50-47 advantage.
 
They took a 52-49 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Two free throws by sophomore Anika Neuman extended the margin to five points before the Pioneers struck back from where they were most comfortable.
 
Back-to-back treys, featuring one from Tylen Price, tied the game at 57-all with 6:40 left to play.
 
Then, when Blanc buried her fourth and final three-pointer just over a minute later (5:30), the Pioneers took a lead, 60-57, they would never relinquish.
 
"We allowed too many rhythm shots and didn't convert layups and free throws," said Waldeck.  "Even with as poorly as we played, if we make free throws, the game would have gone our way."
 
Waldeck was alluding to a 19-35 performance from the line.
 
That showing eventually cost the Mustangs.
 
Meanwhile, UAV scored their final seven points from the line to wrap up the victory.
 
Soares, notching her second double-double in as many games, posted game-highs of 18 points and 17 rebounds.
 
Hannah Forrar was the only other Mustang in double figures, garnering 13 points.
 
Good or bad, the game served as a precursor to GSAC play that opens next Thursday when the Mustangs travel to Surprise, Arizona, to take on Ottawa.