Lady Pilots sink SUNO, 65-64
01/17/2004

The LSUS Lady Pilots played host Southern University of New Orleans Knights Saturday at LSUS Gymnasium. Head coach Ronnie Howell was looking for his first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) win of the year, and was pleased with the results from the first half.

The Lady Pilots (5-10, 1-3 GCAC) managed to respond to some streaky shooting by Pamela Wilson of the Knights, who was good on her first three attempts from beyond the 3-point line. Wilson finished with 11 points in the half. Kendera Monette made the most of her 19 minutes played in the first half, leading the Lady Pilots with 10 points and 6 rebounds. LSUS went on a 7-point run to end the half and went to the locker room with a 35-34 lead.

The second half began with the Knights (11-4, 2-3) going on a 19-7 run, pushing the score to 53-42 in favor of SUNO with 11:34 remaining. LSUS once again weathered the storm, battling on offense and found themselves only down 61-56 with 3:10 left to play with possession of the ball. A time-out call by Howell after a Lady Pilot basket with 42.9 seconds remaining saw the LSUS crowd erupt, as their Lady Pilots trailed 61-60.

During the next SUNO possession, LSUS created a turnover which resulted in a bucket at the other end and the Lady Pilots' first lead since the beginning of the half. For the second straight possession, a forced turnover by India Coleman of the Lady Pilots turned into two points. Free throws by Renalda Stafford with 22.6 remaining built the lead to three points.

The Knights' Wilson, however, managed to get an open look and made her fifth 3-pointer of the game to tie the score at 64-64 with 10 seconds on the clock. The Lady Pilots hurried the ball down the floor and were fouled with one second left, sending Kendera Monette to the line shooting two free throws. Monette made the first and missed the second which did not leave SUNO enough time to get a shot off, sealing the Lady Pilots' first ever GCAC win.

The Lady Pilots are in action again at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the LSUS Gym against conference foe Xavier University (New Orleans).

Issued by Allan Cantwell (sports@lsus.edu)