PENSACOLA, Florida – In the battle of two halves, the second half certainly belonged to the University of West Florida on Thursday evening as the host Argonauts handed the Lady Flames a 71-57 GSC defeat. The loss drops Lee University to 3-2 in conference play and 9-2 overall. West Florida claimed its second straight big conference victory and improved to 3-1, 7-3.
The road does not get any easier for the Lady Flames. They will move on up to Valdosta State for a Saturday afternoon contest (2 p.m. EST). The Blazers improved to 2-2 in the GSC with a Thursday win over Trevecca Nazarene.
After battling to a 15-15 tie at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Flames seemed ready to take control of Thursday's showdown by outscoring the Argonauts 23-13 in the second quarter and moving out to a 38-28 lead at halftime.
Lee shot a blistering 67% (10-of-15) shots from the field in the second quarter and held West Florida to only six field goals. It was an entirely different Argonaut team that emerged from the locker room in the second half and the Lady Flames were ice cold.
West Florida nailed eight shots from the field, including three triples while the Lady Flames hit just three shots overall and no 3-pointers in falling behind 47-44 at the end of three frames. Things got even worse in the final period. The Argos got blistering hot, making 62% (8-of-13) field goal attempts and 3-of-6 3-pointers in putting the contest well out of reach.
In the meantime Coach Rowe was going to his bench as he watched his Lady Flames hit just 5-of-16 shots overall and 1-of-7 attempts from long range in the final quater. The final stats are a little deceiving, showing Lee shooting 42% for the game (25-of-60) and making 5-of-23 triples (22%). The Lady Flames were awarded just four freebies the entire game and made two. The Argos marched to the line 11 times and canned seven.
Mallory Hampton tallied all 11 of her points in the first half and also led the Lee rebounding with six, plus added five assists. Anna Muhonen tossed in 10 points and joined Hampton and Haley Cameron with five boards apiece. Cameron and Mia Hurst finished with nine points. Lee won the rebounding battle 40-32.
West Florida was paced by a double-double from Rylie Stephens. She finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bella Green added 17 points and eight boards, while Bella Stone gave the Argos three players in double-digit scoring with 11 points. The Argonauts had 13 assists to only six turnovers. Lee turned the basketball over 15 times and dished off 13 assists.
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"Our effort was not there in the second half on both ends. West Florida simply outplayed us. The tougher team won the game. Winning on the road in this league is hard and it takes mental toughness. We certainly lacked that down the stretch. Ultimately it falls on my shoulders and I need to do my job better. We'll reevaluate some things and possibly make some changes before Saturday's game."
