CLEVELAND, Tenn. - The Lee women's basketball team celebrated Homecoming with a 73-38 exhibition victory over Maryville College inside Paul Dana Walker Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Flames will open the regular season in Florida, facing Florida Southern on Friday (4 p.m.) in the GSC/SSC Challenge. They will turn around and challenge the University of Tampa in the same event on Saturday (6 p.m.). Lee will return home on Thursday, Nov. 19, and entertain the Sewanee Tigers.
The contest started slowly with Lee leading 15-13 at the end of the first quarter but outscored the Scots 19-6 and led 34-19 at halftime. The margin reached 57-29 by the end of the third frame and the Lee coaching staff began to substitute freely midway of the final quarter.
Coach Marty Rowe used all 12 players in the win and 10 put points in the book. Senior Libby Privett was consistent, especially in the second half, and led the Lady Flames with 17 points. Privett made 6-of-8 shots overall, hit 2-of-3 3-pointers, was a perfect 3-of-3 from the charity stripe, had six rebounds and dished off three assists.
Freshman Emma Smith was the only other Lee player in double figures. She made 5-of-9 shots from the field and finished with 10 points and pulled down three rebounds. Mia Alexander nailed three long triples for her nine points while Molly Brown displayed her offensive moves in totaling eight points, and freshman Mattie Machen also totaled eight markers and grabbed four rebounds.
Abby McFarland led the Lady Flames in rebounding with 11 to go along with her seven points. Lee outrebounded the Scots 38-32. Hannah Jones tallied six points to go along with her four rebounds. The Lady Flames shot a solid 51% from the field (28-of-55). They struggled from distance, making 6-of-24 triples (45%) and hit 11-of-14 free throws.
The defense held the Scots to only 24% (13-of-55) shooting from the field and 4-of-16 from 3-point range. The visitors were awarded 10 freebies and canned eight. Lee forced Maryville into 17 turnovers and committed just 10 floor mistakes.
Kendyll McCloud had seven points to lead the Scots while Chloe Powell tallied six and Kadence Stoner totaled five. Emily Allen was Maryville's top rebounder with five and Tinsley Walker and Leighan Jackson grabbed four boards each.
Coach Marty Rowe's thoughts:
"It's a good start to our year. Getting a chance to play in front of a crowd for some of this group was really important. Everything changes on Monday as we begin preparing for the regular season."
