CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Lee University women's basketball team ended a 17-game winning streak and at the same time handed visiting University of Alabama in Huntsville its first Gulf South Conference defeat as they defeated the Chargers 62-48 inside Walker Arena on Thursday evening. The win improved the Lady Flames record to 10-4 in conference play and 14-5 overall. UAH dropped to 13-1, 18-4.
It was the first Charger defeat since falling to Florida Southern and Tampa in the GSC/SSC Crossover on November 14-15 at Walker Arena. Lee remains tied with Trevecca for second place in the GSC standings and will return to action on Saturday afternoon, hosting the University of West Alabama (1 p.m.).
Coach Marty Rowe got a solid effort from eight players he used in the huge win over the Chargers. Anna Muhonen posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds as Lee won the battle of the boards 40-30. Libby Privett followed with 10 markers and six boards. Bailey Burgess hit three key treys and finished with nine points. Baylee Delbridge tallied eight points and played solid defense against the GSC's leading scorer Lili Wilken, who finished with 14 points.
Abby McFarland countered with eight points and four rebounds while Kara Williams hit what Coach Rowe described as a "sensational shot" when she hit a 3-pointer right before the halftime buzzer sounded and gave Lee a 28-25 lead. She finished with four points and three rebounds. Mia Alexander was also placed in the lineup at a prime-time spot and nailed a triple.
For the game, the Lady Flames shot 43% overall (22-of-51) and made 44% from long range (7-of-16). They converted 11-of-13 free throws (85%). Lee outscored the Chargers 26-12 in points in the paint and 20-5 in bench points. The thrilling contest was tied nine times and the largest lead came at the end of the game.
Bella White followed Wilken in scoring with 13 points. She made 5-of-6 charity attempts and 2-of-6 treys. Ivey Maddox also hit a pair of triples and finished with a double-double, 10 points and 11 rebounds. The Lee defense held UAH to only 26% shooting from the field (14-of-53) and 22% from deep (5-of-23). The visitors converted 15-of-19 freebies (79%). They turned the basketball over only eight times while Lee committed 14 floor mistakes. However, the Lady Flames had 14 assists to just seven for the Chargers.
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"Great effort by our group tonight. We competed for 40 minutes and that is all we can ask of them. We are gaining confidence on both ends of the court and beginning to trust each other more and more. We will enjoy this win tonight and then refocus for Saturday."
