MOBILE, Ala. – Game one of the cross-town rivalry between Spring Hill College and University of Mobile went to the Badgers on Saturday, Nov. 17. Spring Hill and Mobile battled back-and-forth through the afternoon, swapping leads more than a dozen times before Spring Hill came out on top, 80-74, in the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
The first half resulted in a 35-35 tie before Mobile pulled in front 51-50 to enter the fourth quarter.
Elise Reilly hit a 3 to open the fourth quarter off an assist from
Brandy Lee. Lee followed with a steal and layup to put Spring Hill up, 55-51. The lead held for four minutes until Kelsey Pinera hit a 3 to put Mobile in front, 62-61, with six minutes to play. The lead changed twice more before
Tiffany Valentine hit a jumper and a free throw, followed by another layup to put Spring Hill in front, 74-71.
Though, Mobile's Kendra Langham hit a pair of free throws to cut the margin to a point, Reilly knocked down 5-of-6 free throws in the final two minutes and
Daja Walker added one to secure victory for the Badgers.
Valentine scored a career-high 36 points, topping the mark of 34 points against Clark Atlanta last December. She also led Spring Hill with eight rebounds. Reilly followed with 23 points, her third game scoring 20 or more, and dished out four assists. Walker also had four assists.
Three Mobile players scored in double figures, led by Kelsey Pinera's 19 points, a double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds by Artasia McDowell and 15 points by Langham. Lauren Bodino had 11 rebounds and eight points.
Spring Hill (3-2) will travel to Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday, Nov. 20 to face Gulf South Conference foe University of West Florida.
