MARYVILLE, Tenn. – The LaGrange College women's basketball team rallied from a 15-point deficit with 9:10 remaining during a 52-48 win at USA South-rival Maryville on Saturday, as the Panthers earned their fourth-ever win against the Scots.
LaGrange (11-6, 5-4 USA South) has now gone 2-2 in its last four games against Maryville (13-5, 6-3 USA South). The Panthers picked up their second-ever win at Maryville and first since 2012. The 48 points are the lowest that LaGrange has ever given up to the Scots in 50 all-time meetings.
The Panthers went on a 25-6 run over the final 9:10, highlighted by 10 points, five rebounds and a block by junior center Nadia Montour. Junior guard Daijah Cousins recorded eight points, two rebounds and an assist in the fourth, while junior guard Jahpera McEachin tallied five points, three assists and two steals.
"We overcame adversity tremendously on Saturday," said Cousins. "Being down by 15 going into the fourth, we knew we had to play hard. The bench brought the team a great deal of intensity and contributed to the victory."
With LaGrange trailing, 42-27, 50 seconds into the fourth, Montour started the run with back-to-back layups off offensive rebounds. LaGrange cut the deficit down to 44-38 with 5:59 left, as McEachin banked in a right-wing 3-pointer. A layup by Montour evened the game at 46-46 with 2:53 left, and then Cousins gave the unit the lead for good at 48-46 with 2:04 left, draining a pair of foul shots. The 47-46 lead was the first for the Panthers and the 46-46 tie was the first time the score was even since 2-2.
"As a team, we did not give up and we fought for this win," said Montour. "Our defense was persistent until the end. The final five players on the court came together and clicked to help us come out victorious."
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Panthers evened the score at 2-2 with 8:59 left in the first quarter on a turnaround jumper in the left post by junior forward Charley Amissah-Reyes.
- Senior captain Sarah Evans tallied an impressive block on a cut by Elsa Eckenrod of Maryville 2:42 into the game. With 2:29 on the clock, junior forward Adreona Bowen drained a top-of-the-arc 3, cutting the Scots' advantage down to 9-5.
- With 1:42 remaining, Cousins made an outstanding defensive play, sprinting back in transition and forcing a jump ball on a Scots' fast break.
- LaGrange hit the glass in the final minute of the first, as Montour and sophomore guard Jada Brown recorded offensive boards on the same possession. Brown nailed a turnaround jumper, shaving the deficit down to 9-7 with 44 seconds left.
- Maryville responded with a 15-2 run, taking a 24-9 lead with 5:04 left in the half on a layup by Shelby Hix.
- McEachin started pushing the ball in transition, finishing a pair of layups, as the second one cut the deficit down to 27-16 with 2:07 left. The Panthers ended the half on an 8-3 run and trailed, 27-17, at intermission.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Panthers remained within striking distance in the third, trimming Maryville's lead down to 10 on three occasions. A left-baseline trey by McEachin cut the deficit down to 35-25 with 4:39 left.
- LaGrange won the fourth, 27-8, as Cousins went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. McEachin made an outstanding push in transition, finding Montour for a layup with 5:30 left, which brought the Panthers to within four at 44-40.
- Amissah-Reyes finished a driving layup with 4:51 remaining, making it a 45-42 game. Montour showed great body control in the paint, banking in an off-balance jumper with 3:23 left, cutting the deficit down to two.
- The Panthers showed their high-basketball IQ down the stretch, being patient, taking good shots, not turning the ball over and playing strong interior defense. On one end, Montour blocked a shot, and then Cousins drilled a runner with the shot clock winding down, giving the unit a 50-46 lead with 1:05 left.
- Two free throws by McEachin with five seconds left gave LaGrange a 52-46 cushion.
WHAT THEY SAID:
Panthers Head Coach Lee Buchanan: "Beating a quality team and program like Maryville means a lot to our players. We had some good looks in the first three quarters, but nothing would go in the basket. In the fourth, we turned up our defensive pressure and that seemed to electrify our offense. Jahpera, Charley and Jada played exceptional defense in the fourth that led to some easier baskets for us. We did an impressive job of rebounding the basketball and taking care of the ball, which gave us a chance to be successful."
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The Panthers shot 58.8 percent from the floor (10-for-17) in the fourth, while holding Maryville to 21.4-percent shooting (3-for-14).
- McEachin finished with a team-high 12 points, which was tied for the most in the game. She also posted game highs of six assists and three steals. The six assists are the most by McEachin in a Panthers' uniform and the three steals tied a season high.
- Montour finished with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, with six coming on the offensive end. The eight rebounds tied a career high for the post player.
- Cousins finished with nine points, three rebounds and two assists, while Amissah-Reyes recorded seven points and four boards.
- LaGrange held a 50-43 advantage on the glass and a 29-13 lead in bench points. The visitors also led the points-in-the-paint category, 26-20.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Panthers are now 4-46 all-time against Maryville, with three of those wins coming under Buchanan. Buchanan picked up his first-ever win on Saturday at Maryville.
- The Panthers also won at Maryville by a score of 80-74 on Jan. 28, 2012. Heather Miller '13 scored a team-high 19 points, going 9-for-10 from the foul line.
- LaGrange defeated Maryville in Mariotti Gym on Feb. 16, 2014, and on Feb. 3, 2019, by scores of 68-63 and 71-59, respectively.
UP NEXT:
- The Panthers will travel to Macon, Georgia, on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game against USA South-rival Wesleyan.
