The Lee women's basketball team got a little help in its quest to earn one of the top four seeds and host an opening round game in the upcoming Gulf South Conference Tournament. While the Lady Flames were winning at Mississippi College, West Georgia upset West Florida and Delta State won a defensive struggle over Shorter University.

Union University has sealed the No.1 seed and Delta State holds the No. 2 spot at 15-5 in GSC play. Shorter and Lee are 14-6 and tied for third while West Florida has slipped to 13-7.

On Saturday Lee is at Delta; Shorter at Mississippi College; and West Florida goes to West Alabama. It now appears that a great deal will be riding on the Lee at Delta contest and the Lady Flames at Shorter next Thursday. Plenty is on the line as the GSC regular-season race goes down to the wire.
 
CLINTON, Miss. - The Lee women's basketball team watched a 27-point lead chopped away to only eight points in the fourth quarter but regrouped to post an important 73-60 Gulf South Conference victory over host Mississippi College on Thursday evening.

Now it's on to Cleveland, Miss. and a primetime battle with Delta State in what could turn out to be a game that decides second place when Gulf South Conference play concludes.

Led by the scoring of Shelby Brown (26 points), the Lady Flames improved to 17-8 overall and more importantly 14-6 in the battle for second place in the conference standings. Brown finished the game by making 11-of-16 shots from the field and a pair of key 3-pointers. She also just missed a double-double with nine rebounds as the Lady Flames won the battle of the boards 48-42.

Kayla Beavers joined Brown and Erin Walsh in knocking down 3-pointers to help turn back the Lady Choctaws' comeback attempt. Walsh finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and Beavers converted three treys for her nine points. Haris Price rounded out the double-figure scoring with 12 points. She also dished off nine assists. Christina Johnson ripped down 11 rebounds and scored six points.

"I think we relaxed a little after jumping out to the 25-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. I will take a little bit of the blame for their comeback in the second half," noted coach Marty Rowe. "With Christina and Shelby in foul trouble and Carrie Cheeks still not able to play, I tried to start a lineup in the second half that probably had not played together the entire season. Give Shelby, Erin and Kayla credit. They stepped up and hit some key shots in the final period."

For the game, the Lady Flames shot 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from behind the arc. They went to the free-throw line 23 times and canned 13. Lee had 18 assists compared to 14 turnovers.

The Lady Choctaws were paced by Kristen Sampson who hit three treys and finished with 17 points. She also paced her team with nine rebounds. Olivia Mabry had 10 points and Carla Clemmons had 11 markers.

Lee's defense held Mississippi College to 30 percent shooting from the field and 26 percent from 3-point range. They converted 18-of-23 free throws.

Lee dominated the game in points in the paint, 36-25 and held a 14-7 advantage in points off the bench.