Junior Jahpera McEachin of the LaGrange College women's basketball team scored a game-high 16 points on Saturday, as seventh-year head coach Lee Buchanan picked up his 100th victory for the Panthers during a 67-46 USA South win over Agnes Scott at Mariotti Gym.
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| Lee Buchanan is a role model on and off the court at LaGrange College. |
Buchanan is the first head coach in program history to reach 100 victories, as he moved into first place in all-time wins during a victory over Covenant on Wednesday. Buchanan, who has coached at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels, along with the NAIA, overtook Mark Isenhour atop the Panthers' list. Isenhour did a fantastic job at LaGrange from 2007-13, leading the women's basketball team to an overall record of 98-57.
Buchanan, who is in his 28th year as a collegiate head coach, has 476 career wins. The Panthers have qualified for the USA South Tournament in each of his first six seasons. From 2014-16, LaGrange reached the USA South semifinals in three-straight years.
"I am very pleased to get the win," said Buchanan. "Everyone has been working very diligently, so it is special to get them some minutes. Overall, it was a real good team win. I am seeing results from all the hard work the players have been putting in."
Senior captain Sarah Evans (9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals), senior captain Sadie Desroches (10 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) and junior guard Daijah Cousins (8 points, 4 assists) all played well. The Panthers, who trailed, 25-24, at halftime, took control with a 26-9 advantage in the third quarter. LaGrange shot 6-for-10 from 3-point range and 17-for-30 from the field in the second half.
The Panthers (8-5, 3-3 USA South) picked up their second-straight USA South win at Mariotti, while the Scotties fell to 0-14 overall and 0-5 in the USA South.
"I am proud of our effort as a team, especially in the second half," said Evans. "It was good to get all of my teammates in the game as well. We have a big game Tuesday, so it is good to get some momentum off two good wins this week. I would also like to congratulate coach for reaching 100 wins at LaGrange."
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- McEachin rattled in a left-baseline 3-pointer 39 seconds into the game, giving the Panthers a 3-0 advantage. With 8:17 remaining in the first, Desroches attacked the hoop and banked in a difficult runner, giving the hosts a 5-3 lead.
- Senior captain Mykelli Taylor made an exceptional entry pass to Evans for an easy layup with 7:27 on the clock, as the Panthers regained the lead at 7-6.
- A left-of-the-arc three-ball by junior forward Charley Amissah-Reyes put the Panthers in front, 10-8, with 6:05 remaining. Freshman forward Breonna Glover converted a layup off an outstanding low-post pass by junior forward Adreona Bowen, giving the hosts a 12-10 advantage with 2:09 remaining.
- Glover established position down low and rebounded a missed shot. She then gathered quickly and went back up strong for a 14-13 LaGrange lead 35 seconds into the second quarter.
- Amissah-Reyes found Evans for a wide-open, right-baseline jumper with 4:41 on the clock, as the basket gave the team a 20-16 advantage.
- Agnes Scott responded with a 9-2 run, taking a 25-22 lead with 1:06 left. Cousins trimmed the halftime deficit down to 25-24 with a floater in the lane.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- McEachin cashed in on a right-baseline 3-pointer 18 seconds into the second half off an inbounds pass by Desroches, which gave LaGrange the lead for good at 27-25. McEachin attacked the paint and found Desroches for an uncontested right-baseline jumper, pushing the Panthers' lead up to 29-25 with 8:28 on the clock in the third.
- An old-fashioned, 3-point play by Evans put LaGrange in front, 32-27, and then a strong layup in traffic by McEachin gave the squad a 38-28 advantage with 5:36 on the scoreboard.
- Evans made a highlight-reel play with 3:27 left. She established defensive position on the right block, and then went straight up and emphatically blocked a layup attempt by Emma Olson of Agnes Scott.
- With 53 seconds left, LaGrange's press forced the Scotties into a 10-second violation. A 3-point shot by Bowen, assisted by Cousins, extended the Panthers' lead to 50-32 with 46 seconds remaining.
- The Panthers built a 20-point lead at 57-37 on a mid-range jumper by junior center Nadia Montour with 6:26 left in the fourth.
- Freshman guard Catherine Skebo ended the scoring for the Panthers, draining a right-baseline 3-pointer with 48 seconds on the clock.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Panthers Head Coach Lee Buchanan: "Jahpera, Sadie and Sarah all had good nights on the offensive end. All three shot the ball well and gave us a big boost. On the defensive end, I was pleased with our effort. Daijah and sophomore guards Jalaya Lewis and Jada Brown were impressive on our press. They got after it defensively and changed the momentum in our favor."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The Panthers recorded season highs of 19 assists and 18 steals.
- McEachin went 6-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, as the four 3-pointers are a season high for the starting shooting guard.
- Desroches shot an efficient 5-for-8 from the floor, perfecting the mid-range game and attacking the hoop in transition and out of half-court sets. Desroches' three steals are tied for the most in her Panther career.
- Cousins went 3-for-4 from the floor and 1-for-2 from 3-point range, as the Panthers shot 45.9 percent from the floor and 40 percent from the 3-point line during the game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Panthers improved to 30-7 all time against Agnes Scott, as LaGrange extended its winning streak in the rivalry to 19, dating back to the 2008-09 season.
- Buchanan improved to 10-0 all-time against the Scotties. LaGrange is 16-2 in program history against Agnes Scott at Mariotti.
- The Panthers' largest win in the series came in 2003 during a 91-26 victory. Agnes Scott won the first-ever matchup, by a score of 75-64 in 2000.
UP NEXT:
- The Panthers will end their three-game homestand with a 6 p.m. USA South game on Tuesday against Piedmont at Mariotti.
