Lady Pilots win home opener 70-44 over Lady Tigers
November 06, 2005
Shreveport, LA---Jessica Kelly, a junior transfer from Southern Arkansas University, poured in 15 points in her LSUS debut as the Lady Pilots went on to win their season and home opener over the Paul Quinn College Lady Tigers, 70-44.
Priscilla Pena connected on a baseline jumper to tie the score at 2-2 for the first LSUS basket of the 2005-2006 season. Kelly followed by connecting on her first three shots as a Lady Pilot, including a three-point field goal at the 15:21 mark giving LSUS a 9-2 lead.
Kelly connected on two of three free throw attempts after being fouled on a three point to give the Lady Pilots a 26-11 lead, their biggest lead of the half, with 6:59 remaining.
The Tigers answered with a 10-0 run out of a timeout, cutting the LSUS lead to 26-21. Hannah Debose led the offensive charge with 12 of the 21 first half Tiger points.
LSUS received a spark off the bench from returning sophomore Kacie Cryer who collected six first half points including a jumper in the key with :32 seconds left despite being fouled on the shot. Cryer missed the single free throw attempt but the Lady Pilots forced a turnover by Debose which allowed Kelly to get a last second shot from beyond the three point line as time expired that rattled off the rim and out, keeping the score 32-21 heading into the half.
Neither team was able to handle the defensive pressure being applied as there were 38 first half turnovers committed; PCQ with 23; LSUS with 15. The Lady Pilots finished the half shooting 27% from the field connecting on just 8-29 from the field, while PQC connected on just 8-31 (26%) from the field, 2-17 from beyond the three point line.
Debose connected on a field goal at the 18:57 of the second half to cut the lead to 32-23, and that was as close as the Lady Tigers would come as the Lady Pilots went on to outscore PQC in the second half 38-23, resulting in a 70-44 victory, and the first 1-0 start in Lady Pilot history. Debose finished with a game high 20 points and 9 rebounds. Teammate Knanesha Carr added 9 points and Stacey Woodley pitched in with three points and eight rebounds. PCQ finished shooting just 27% from the field which included a 5-27 performance from beyond the three point line. The Lady Tigers shooting woes continued at the free throw line connecting on just 7-17 attempts.
Kelly finished with a team high 15 points and five rebounds for the Lady Pilots. Marcia Spyhalski, the lone returning Lady Pilot senior was a rebound shy of a double-double as she finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Cryer and sophomore forward Amanda Castle rounded out the LSUS scoring with eight points each. The Lady Pilots finished shooting 32% from the field and just 4-13 from the three point line. The Lady Pilots forced 34 turnovers while committing 24 of their own while each team collected 48 rebounds.
LSUS found their success at the free throw line as they managed to connect on 28-40 attempts which proved to be the difference in the end. “Neither team shot the ball real well, but we continued to drive the basket and get to the line. We are more athletic this year than we have been in the past and I think that showed tonight,” commented head Coach Ronnie Howell.
LSUS will be in action again at the Dock Wednesday night versus Wiley College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30pm.
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