KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Hot shooting LaGrange ran past Johnson 95-68 on Friday night. The Panthers upped their record to 7-8 after the non-confernce win over the Lady Royals (1-12).
LC shot a season-best 64.4 percent in the game. Sarah Evans had a career-high 24 points. Evans was 10-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Marilauren Farr hit 8-of-9 shots and finished with 22 points, while Lauren Johnson had 20. Andrea Lasseigne finished with a career-high 12 points.
Both teams played shorthanded. The Panthers had seven players available, while the Lady Royals had just six.
"I'm really happy for our players and getting the win tonight. It's good to work hard in practice and then see it pay off in games," said Coach Lee Buchanan, who got career win number 450. "This team continues to work hard and believe in what we are doing even against some tough odds this season.
"It was a true team win, I thought all seven players played hard and contributed. We put together a game plan the players followed very well. Every player had at least one assist and multiple rebounds."
Johnson scored the first basket of the game for its only lead. The Panthers quickly opened up a 15-4 lead. LC led 46-30 at halftime. The biggest lead was 31 in the fourth period.
The Panthers hit 13-of-14 from the free throw line for a season-best 92.9 percentage. They had a season-high 25 assists, while outrebounding the Lady Royals 42-15. Farr led LC with a game-high nine rebounds.
"Our inside game was really good tonight and we were able to connect from outside as well," Buchanan said. "It always helps when you shoot well and dominate the boards like we did tonight. Farr and Evans missed only three shots between them all night but it was a truly team win."
The Panthers play at Covenant on Tuesday and host Wesleyan on Thursday in USA South contests.
