MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) women's basketball team fended off a gallant 4
th-quarter comeback attempt by the Central State University (CSU) Lady Marauders on Monday evening to secure a 77-73 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) victory at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
The Marauders (7-13, 5-7 SIAC West) trailed the Badgers by 18 points at 60-42 with 30 seconds left in the 3
rd quarter and by as much as 66-48 with 8 minutes left to play. CSU then went on a defensive blitzkrieg that resulted in a 17-3 advantage in points off turnovers over the final minutes of the contest, pulling to within 72-71 with 39 seconds still showing in the contest.
Spring Hill would make 5-of-7 free throws down the stretch combined with crucial rebounds by junior guard
Angel Benson of Madison, Ala. and senior guard
Daja Walker of Tuskegee, Ala. capped by a game-sealing steal at midcourt and free throw by Benson to finish out the victory.
Senior forward
Tiffany Valentine of Houston, Texas led the Badgers with 27 points and 13 rebounds as she passed 1,500 career points and now stands at fourth on the all-time SHC women's scoring list with 1,522 points. Walker added 11 points and senior
Elise Reilly scored 12 points to move into 13
th place on the SHC all-time scoring list with 1,168 career points.
As a team, the Badgers shot 49.1% (26-53) from the floor and 23.1% (3-13) from beyond 3-point distance. SHC lost the ball 23 times against 11 steals by the Marauder defense that CSU converted into a 30-18 advantage in points off turnovers. The Badgers knocked down 68.8% (22-32) of their free throw opportunities and controlled the boards by a 48-36 margin for a 15-10 advantage in second chance points.
Cameryn DuBose paced the Marauders with 14 points as CSU shot 36.1% (26-72) from the field and 25% (4-16) from 3-point range. CSU scored on just 63% (17-27) of its free throws and lost 12 turnovers to five Badger steals.
The Badgers (8-13, 7-5 SIAC West) and the CSU Lady Marauders will have a quick turnaround for a rematch when the two teams meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. (east) on Saturday at Beacom/Lewis Gym in Wilberforce, Ohio.
