CLEVELAND, Tenn. - With Libby Privett and Baylee Delbridge leading the way, the Lee women's basketball team claimed a thrilling 84-80 overtime victory over the University of West Alabama inside Walker Arena on Saturday afternoon. The win improved Lee's record to 11-4 in GSC play and 15-5 overall while the Tigers dropped to 7-8, 9-10.
The Lady Flames will go back on the road for two important conference games next Thursday and Saturday. They will face Valdosta State on Thursday at 6 p.m. and move on down to Pensacola and test the University of West Florida on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Both Privett and Delbridge had career highs in the win over the Tigers. Privett had a double-double, 32 points and 10 rebounds. She was 10-of-19 shooting overall and 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. Privett went to the free-throw line 11 times and converted all 11.
Delbridge tallied 21 points. She was 7-of-11 from the field and hit her second 3-point shot of the season. The senior canned 6-of-6 attempts from the charity stripe and pulled down five rebounds.
In the final minutes of regulation play, Lee trailed 65-63 when Delbridge stepped up to sink her first triple of the season and put Lee back on top 66-65. Seconds later, West Alabama's Nailah Mayes put the visitors back on top 68-66 with a two-point goal. With time running out, Privett drove for the bucket and converted a layup to send the game into overtime, tied at 68.
In the extra five-minute period, Privett scored six straight points and helped Lee pull out the hard-fought victory. West Alabama's lead was never larger than six points, and it came in the fourth period. Lee's biggest lead was eight points that came in the first frame.
Anna Muhonen also recorded a double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds while Abby McFarland started the game by making a pair of free throws when a technical foul was charged to UWA. She also scored the final two points of the game with two more freebies. Mia Alexander hit a pair of key triples while Bailey Burgess had Lee's other three.
Overall, the Lady Flames shot 45% from the field (28-of-62) and made 5-of-11 triples (42%). The rugged game saw Lee awarded 27 free throws and knocked down 23 (85%). They outscored the visitors 46-26 in points in the paint while the rebounding battle was even, 35 each.
Four West Alabama players scored in double figures. Mayes led the way with 19 points. Bellah Machen followed right behind with 19. Haley Nichols carded a big double-double, 15 points and 14 rebounds while Callie Cowan finished with 12 points. The visitors had 19 turnovers compared to 14 assists. Lee dished off 11 assists and had 15 turnovers in the tough battle. The Tigers shot 41% from the field (25-of-61) and made 5-of-11 treys (46%). They hit 25-of-28 free throws (89%).
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"This team keeps finding ways, that's a great quality and it seems to be different people at different times. West Alabama is playing at such a high level, so finding a way to win down the stretch is big for our team. We are looking forward to continuing to work as a group to continue getting better."
