LSUS outlasts BC for 59-54 victory
February 09, 2007
Jackson, MS---Despite a late 10-2 run by the Belhaven College Lady Blazers (6-16, 3-10), the LSUS Lady Pilots (10-12, 6-7) managed to pull out a 59-54 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference road victory Thursday night at Charles R. Rugg Arena.
Lurena Robinson connected on a free throw at the 14:18 mark of the first half to give the Lady Blazers an early 15-10 lead. The two teams traded baskets through the next 5:00 and found themselves knotted at 19-19 with 9:00 remaining.
Tish Flowers collected two of her team high seven first half points for the Lady Pilots at the 7:51 mark which sparked a 12-5 LSUS run to give the Lady Pilots their largest lead of the half, 34-21.
Samantha Kirkwood collected five consecutive BC points in the final 1:09 which cut the Lady Pilots lead to 31-29 at the break.
The Lady Blazers dominated the boards in the first half by a final 21-13 margin which included 10 rebounds coming on the offensive end.
LSUS compensated the lack of rebounds by committing four less turnovers and shooting a combined 14-of-28 (50%) from the floor, while holding BC to just 11-of-28 (39%).
Kirkwood finished the half with a team high 11 points and six rebounds for the Lady Blazers.
Seven Lady Pilots tallied points in the first half with Flowers leading the way with seven, while teammate Edie Leonards added six points and a team high three rebounds.
In the second half, LSUS stretched their lead to as many as seven points after Leonards connected on a jumper from the lane at the 9:49 mark put the Lady Pilots ahead 49-42.
BC however held the LSUS to just two points over the next seven minutes and captured a 52-51 lead with 2:42 remaining after Kirkwood connected on back-to-back free throw attempts.
Both teams came up empty on their ensuing possessions which held the score at 52-51. Janai Sells collected a defensive rebound after a Dukes missed field goal which led to a Jessica Kelly three point field goal as the shot clock expired giving LSUS a 54-52 lead with 1:12 remaining.
A BC turnover with 32 seconds remaining lead to a fast break by Leonards who was sent to the line for two free throws. After missing her first attempt, Leonards connected on the second giving LSUS a 55-52 lead.
Krikwood pulled the Lady Blazers within one, 55-54, with a field goal with just 16 seconds remaining. Consecutive fouls by BC in the final seconds sent Kacie Cryer to line where she connected on two free throw attempts stretching the Lady Pilots lead to 57-54.
After a BC timeout, the Lady Pilots stole the inbounds pass to mid-court by Keisha Roland which sealed the deal for the Lady Pilots. BC was forced to foul which sent Kelly to the line where she missed her bonus attempt but collected the offensive rebound and put back an open lay-up capping the Lady Pilots 59-54 victory.
LSUS managed to win the battle of the boards in the second half to outrebound the Lady Blazers 38-37 in the contest. LSUS finished 12-of-33 (36%) from the floor in the second half and connected on just 3-of-7 free throw attempts.
BC finished 10-of-28 (38%) from the field which included an 0-of-5 effort from beyond the arc.
Kirkwood led the Lady Blazers with a game high 22 points and eight rebounds while Dukes added 12 points and a team high nine rebounds.
Kelly led the Lady Pilots offense with 17 points and eight rebounds while teammates Cryer and Leonards each added 11.
