CLEVELAND, Tenn.-For three quarters the Lee University women's basketball team was in total control, but visiting Trevecca Nazarene University outscored the Lady Flames 27-5 in the final period and forced the home standing team to hold on for a 66-63 victory inside Walker Arena on Saturday afternoon.
It was the first win of the season for Coach Marty Rowe's team who dropped a pair of games in the GSC/Sunshine State Crossover last weekend in Huntsville, Ala. The Lady Flames will continue to prepare for the conference opening with Valdosta State on Saturday (Nov. 25th, 2 p.m.) before taking a brief break on Thanksgiving Day.
Lee wasted no time in jumping out to a 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the margin to 42-20 by halftime. During the first quarter, the Lady Flames shot 58% from the field and increased the hot-shooting to 64% in the second quarter. At the same time they also made 7-of-7 free throws. The Lee defense held the Trojans to just 23% shooting from the field in the second period.
In the third frame, the Lady Flames continued to build the lead to a comfortable 61-36. The fourth period was an entirely different story. Lee went cold from the field and made just 1-of-9 shots. On the other hand, Trevecca was 9-of-15 (60%). A 17-0 run sliced the huge Lee lead down to eight points, and then a 23-4 output by the Trojans saw the lead down to only three points, 66-63.
Trevecca had the basketball with just over two seconds remaining and called a timeout. A play was set up and a good shot from the corner flew just over the rim and the Lady Flames escaped with their first victory of the season. For the game, Lee still shot 49% (23-of-47) and made 10-of-23 3-point attempts (46%). They also hit 10-of-13 free throws.
Anna Muhonen and Addison Smith paced the Lee scoring with 12 points apiece. Smith made three 3-pointers and paced the Lady Flames with six rebounds. Bailey Burgess came off the bench and hit three triples for nine points. The Trojans held Mallory Hampton to only one field goal but she managed to finish with seven points. Lee won the rebounding battle 33-23 but turned the basketball over 26 times while having 17 assists.
Trevecca's Lili Wilken had 17 points and hit three 3-pointers. She was also the leading rebounder with six. Keeley Carter added 11 points while Konnor Gambrell tallied nine points Amaya Thomas came off the bench to also score nine markers. The Trojans had 19 turnovers to 11 assists.
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"It was a great way to bounce back from last week. We had a great week of practice and that showed for three quarters. Our urgency and focus on both ends of the court was what we expect, but obviously we have to do a better job of finishing games.
"Give Trevecca credit, they fought until the final play, but we cannot have so many self-inflicted mistakes down the stretch like we did today."
