Spring Hill College overcame a slow start and held off a late rally by the University of Mobile eke out a 64-63 victory over the Rams in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
Spring Hill (4-4) stopped a two-game losing streak with the victory and recorded a season sweep of its arch-rival. The Badgers won the first matchup, 80-74, back on Nov. 17.
Mobile (3-6), which has now lost its last two in a row, jumped on Spring Hill early, scoring the final nine points of the first quarter to close the opening 10 minutes with a 20-9 lead.
The Badgers were hampered by 4-for-13 shooting (30.8 percent) and five turnovers in the first quarter, but Spring Hill scored the first six points of the second period to get to within 20-17. Spring Hill took its first lead of the game at 23-22 after a
Tiffany Valentine basket with 5:08 to go in the first half.
Spring Hill kept the lead the rest of the half, going into the locker room with a 28-24 advantage after limiting the Rams to just four points in the second quarter.
Valentine led the way for the Badgers with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots and
Elise Reilly pitched in six points, four rebounds and four assists in the first two quarters.
Spring Hill maintained its lead in the third quarter, taking a 45-38 advantage into the final 10 minutes. Mobile got within one point at 45-44 after a Jordyn York basket with 7:51 still to go and Kendra Langham's basket with 5:43 remaining got the Rams back to down only one point at 51-50.
However, Spring Hill made a 10-4 run to re-establish a seven-point lead, 61-54, and the Badgers looked to have the game in hand, still leading, 64-58, with 8 seconds left.
Mobile made one last-ditch attempt to extend the game, getting a 3-pointer from Payl Tattari to make it 64-61 with four seconds left and then a basket by Kelsey Pinera off a Spring Hill turnover to get to within 64-63. However, the Badgers were able to inbound the ball following a timeout and Spring Hill was able to earn the victory.
Valentine had a big double-double (26 points on 12-of-16 shooting, 16 rebounds, three blocks) to lead Spring Hill. Reilly just missed a double-double herself with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Badgers, who won despite committing 21 turnovers.
The Badgers forced 10 turnovers and limited the Rams to 30.3 percent shooting (23-for-76) for the game, including 4-for-17 (23.5 percent) on 3-pointers. Langham led Mobile with 17 points and six assists and Tattari had 12 points, five rebounds and four steals in the loss.
Spring Hill isn't off for long, as it plays again Monday, hosting in-state rival Alabama-Huntsville in another non-conference game. Tipoff at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
