MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A cold shooting night and a tough LeMoyne-Owen College defense Spring Hill College held to a season-low in points as the Magicians beat Spring Hill, 62-37, Saturday night in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Bruce-Johnson Hall.
Spring Hill (10-15, 6-10) led 10-9 with 3:14 to go in the first quarter after a layup by
Daja Walker, but that was the last lead the Badgers would hold, as LeMoyne-Owen (14-11, 11-6) scored the final seven points of the period to close the opening 10 minutes with a 16-10 advantage.
Katie Krout's basket with 7:41 left in the first half got Spring Hill back to within 18-14, but the Magicians still were able to take a 25-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. Spring Hill was just 6-for-24 (25 percent) from the field in the first half, including going 0-for-5 from three-point range.
Spring Hill was unable to get any closer than eight points in the second half as LeMoyne-Owen continued to extend its lead. The Magicians - who are 8-1 at home this season - outscored the Badgers, 21-12, in the third period to lead 45-29 going into the fourth quarter before cruising to the win.
Walker led Spring Hill with 13 points, five steals and three rebounds.
Tiffany Valentine finished with a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds as well. Spring Hill finished the game 13-for-55 (23.6 percent) from the field overall, including 0-for-7 from three-point range. The Badgers also had 28 turnovers that led to 26 LeMoyne-Owen points.
Dana Gettis led LeMoyne-Owen with 21 points. Lamontazia Blair had 14 points, seven rebounds and four steals, Averyale Joy pitched in eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals and Glenda Garner had eight points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.
Spring Hill closes out the regular season Monday, traveling to Jackson, Tenn., to take on Lane in a SIAC contest. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
