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The 2021 LaGrange College women's basketball team is looking forward to a third crack at Maryville during the first round of the USA South West Division tournament Wednesday at the Boydson H. Baird Gymnasium in Maryville, Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
"Tournament time is always an exciting part of the season," said LaGrange College women's basketball head coach Jasen Jonus. "Rankings and records go out the window and it comes down to do-or-die games. Our journey this season has forced us to become resilient and learn a great deal about ourselves. We know that we are going to need to take care of the ball and dictate our style of play to be successful. Our student-athletes will leave everything on the court."
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The third-seeded Panthers (8-3 USA South) will look to avenge two regular-season losses to the second-seeded Scots (10-2). The winner of this matchup will advance to the championship game of the West Division tournament Saturday against either top-seeded Piedmont (12-0) or fourth-seeded Brevard (6-5).
"If we want to be a championship-level team, we have to put up championship-level numbers," said sophomore guard Gracie Brunel. "If we do the little things, everything else will fall into place."
Senior captain Jahpera McEachin added, "This is what we have been preparing for all year. It is time to show that we are the best team in the league."
The rivalry between the Panthers and Scots has heated up over the last few years. Maryville prevailed, 64-55, in Mariotti Gym on Feb. 18, and then two days later, emerged victorious, 74-63, on its home court. The teams split the regular-season series in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
On Jan. 25, 2020, LaGrange rallied from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Scots, 52-48, in Maryville. The win was the second ever for LC at Maryville and first since 2012. During the 2018-19 season, the Panthers defeated the Scots, 71-59, in Mariotti.
LAST GAME AGAINST MARYVILLE:
During a 74-63 setback at Maryville on Feb. 20, sophomores Breonna Glover and Morgan Grant were outstanding in the low post. Glover recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. Grant scored a career-high 13 points, to go along with eight boards.
Jordan Heifner led the way for the Scots with a game-leading 21 points.
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KEEP GETTING IT DONE JAHPERA:
McEachin has evolved into one of the best players in LC women's basketball history. The 5-foot-5 guard has recorded four double-doubles this season and scored 25 or more points four times.
She ranks second in the conference in assists per game (6.0), fourth in points (18.7) and fifth in steals (2.8). The most points a Panther has ever averaged in a complete season was 18.5 by Heather Miller '13 in 2012-13.
McEachin is first in the USA South in free-throw shooting (88.7%) and second in 3-point shooting (43.9%). Additionally, she is averaging the second-most rebounds (6.3) for the Panthers.
The Federal Way, Washington, native tied the program's single-game assists record with 14 in a 106-25 season-opening triumph over Agnes Scott on Jan. 15. On Jan. 25, McEachin became the first Panther to earn the conference's women's basketball player of the week award since Marilauren Farr '19 on Nov. 19, 2018.
STAY AGGRESSIVE JALAYA:
Junior guard Jalaya Lewis is averaging the second-most points (12.3) and assists (2.6) on the team, to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
The St. Simons Island, Georgia, native does a little bit of everything on the court. She has recorded five or more rebounds six times, five or more assists twice and four or more steals three times in 2021.
She has scored in double figures in 9-of-11 games. Lewis poured in a career and game-high 20 points in a 79-56 victory at Huntingdon on Feb. 12.
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KEEP PERFECTING THE LITTLE THINGS GRACIE:
Brunel is averaging the third-most points on the team (10.0). She makes countless winning plays that cannot be accurately measured in a box score. Brunel competes for every 50-50 ball and never takes a possession off.
Brunel is always willing to make the extra pass, plays intense on-ball defense and has a strong basketball IQ. The 5-foot-7 guard scored 11 of her career-high 22 points in the third quarter during an 87-24 win over Wesleyan on Feb. 16. In the third quarter, she shot 3 of 4 on 3-pointers and 4 for 6 from the field.
CONTROL THE PAINT BREONNA:
Glover has come into her own this season and developed into a superb post player. She has scored in double figures three times and pulled down 10 or more rebounds on three occasions.
The Macon, Georgia, native tallied her first collegiate double-double with personal-bests of 19 points and 16 rebounds in a 92-50 victory at Wesleyan on Feb. 10. The 16 boards are tied for the sixth most in a single game in program history.
THE COACHING FACTOR:
Jonus and assistant coach Matthew Snyder have done phenomenal work in their first year with the LC women's basketball team. LC opened the season with eight straight wins, all double-digit victories.
Jonus inherited a lifetime of basketball knowledge working alongside LC men's basketball head coach Kendal Wallace for seven years from 2013-20. The men's basketball team won three USA South championships and advanced to four NCAA Division III tournaments during that period.
Assistant Sports Information Director Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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