JACKSON, Tenn. – Playing against the nation's nationally ranked 15th team on their home floor and trailing by as much as 11 points early in the third period, the Lee University women's basketball team never backed away in posting a thrilling 84-81 overtime victory over Union University on Thursday evening. It was the first GSC loss of the season for the 9-1, 14-3 Union club while the Lady Flames improved to 7-3, 13-3 with their biggest victory of the season.
A missed free throw cost the Lady Flames an opportunity to win the battle in regulation. After the miss, Lee still held a 72-70 lead. Union grabbed the missed free throw and quickly called a timeout. The Lady Bulldogs nailed a layup right before the final buzzer sounded to send the contest into OT tied at 72.
Lee suffered what could have been a game-ending injury for most teams when Mallory Hampton went out with 3:25 remaining in the extra period with an injury. However, Baylee Delbridge scored five of her 11 total points in the OT to help the Lady Flames claim the victory while Kara Williams nailed four key free throws. At the same time, Lee was making key defensive plays against the frustrated Lady Bulldogs and Addison Smith pulled down a huge rebound.
Williams finished with a career high 16 points. She attempted six triples and nailed four while going to the charity stripe four times and making all four. Hampton just missed a career-high performance. She finished with 34 points, two short of the mark she has established during her outstanding career at Lee. Hampton canned 4-of-8 3-pointers and 6-of-8 free throws. She also matched Delbridge with a team high seven rebounds.
All totaled, the Lady Flames out-boarded the taller Union club 44-33. Mia Hurst added three shots from beyond the arc and totaled 11 points while Anna Muhonen helped give Lee a solid team effort with six rebounds. Williams, Haylee Johnson and Hurst battled for four boards each. The Lady Flames shot a solid 57% from the field (27-of-47) and also made 48% of their 3-pointers (11-of-23). They did struggle a bit from the line, converting 19-of-29.
The defense held the usual hot-shooting Lady Bulldogs to 37% shooting from the field (27-of-73) and only 21% from beyond the arc (7-of-34). The home standing club stayed close the entire night by making 20-of-26 charity tosses. Jeremia Montgomery, a transfer from Christian Brothers, paced Union in scoring with 21 points. Olivia Lee and Skylee Morrison added 12 apiece.
Lee will take a well-deserved break on Friday and move onto Memphis on Saturday to face Christian Brothers in the opening game of a doubleheader slated for a 2 p.m. tip.
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"That is as tough as we have played all year on both ends of the ball. Anytime you can have a chance to win on the road against one of the best teams in the country, it takes an incredible effort. I'm so proud of this group and the growth they are beginning to show."
