DEMOREST, Ga. – The LaGrange College women's basketball team saw four players reach double figures in scoring Saturday, as the Panthers went on a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter during an 80-72 season-opening triumph over Oglethorpe at Piedmont University.
Junior guard Gracie Brunel tied career-highs of 22 points, four made 3-pointers and four steals for the Panthers (1-0). Junior center Jada Strickland, who was making her first start for LC, tallied her first collegiate double-double with personal-bests of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
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"It was a complete team effort," said LaGrange College Head Women's Basketball Coach Jasen Jonus. "The game was tied going into the fourth quarter, and I was very pleased with the effort and grit that we showed in the final 10 minutes. We had contributions up and down the roster, including some standout performances from newcomers. Our depth is vital to our success and it showed up big time Saturday."
Freshmen Ema Turner and Bryanna Sanders were phenomenal in their Panther debuts. Turner finished with a game-leading six assists in 18 minutes off the bench, to go along with four rebounds, two points and two steals. Her on-ball defense was superb and she pushed the ball effectively in transition. Sanders dropped eight points in 10 minutes off the bench, shooting 3 of 6 from the field and 2 for 4 on 3-pointers.
Leading the way for the Stormy Petrels (0-1) were Carley Bell (17 points) and Taylor Smith (12 points, 13 rebounds).
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
In the first quarter, Strickland pulled down an offensive rebound on a missed 3-point shot, and then made two foul shots, cutting Oglethorpe's lead down to 13-12 with 3:20 left.
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On the ensuing defensive possession, Turner went in the paint and corralled a rebound among a group of post players and showcased her quickness in the open floor. She used her court vision to set up a teammate for a layup opportunity.
Late in the first, LC embarked on a 10-0 run over a period of 57 seconds. Brunel scored five points, Sanders knocked down a three-ball and senior guard Jalaya Lewis converted a coast-to-coast layup, giving the Panthers a 26-17 advantage with 44 seconds on the clock.
With 7:53 left in the second quarter, senior forward Megan English made an extra-effort play, drawing a charge in the paint. Turner stole the ball with 7:01 remaining in the half, and then converted a layup down the other end off a feed by Lewis, pushing LaGrange's advantage to 32-23.
Freshman guard Britney Chavez made an exceptional move with 5:59 left on the clock. She pump-faked, side-stepped a defender and buried a right-wing trey, giving the Panthers a 35-24 cushion. A pair of made free throws by Brunel with 18 seconds left sent LaGrange into halftime with a 41-37 lead.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
English attacked the basket aggressively and finished through contact, giving LC a 43-41 lead 1:43 into the third. With 6:39 left, Strickland made a strong defensive move and blocked a driving layup shot by an Oglethorpe player.
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Sanders and Brunel buried top-of-the-arc 3-pointers, as the unit claimed a 51-48 advantage with 4:36 left. The game went into the fourth quarter knotted at 58-58.
LaGrange kept Oglethorpe off the scoreboard for the opening 4:15 of the final quarter and scored 13 of its own points during that stretch. Lewis set the tone on the first possession of the quarter, tallying a steal and converting a layup down the other end.
The surge ended with an outstanding play out of a halfcourt set. Turner spotted Brown on a backdoor cut, and then senior guard Jada Brown slid a pass to Strickland for a layup, giving LC a 71-58 cushion with 6:45 showing on the clock. LC did not allow Oglethorpe to get closer than eight the remainder of the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Lewis filled up the box score with 10 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Brown finished with 10 points and seven boards.
LC led the points-off-turnovers category, 27-13, and second-chance points, 20-11. LaGrange started and finished strong, winning the first and fourth quarters by a combined margin of 48-33.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
LaGrange picked up its first victory against Oglethorpe since a 49-47 decision on Nov. 29, 2015, as the Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak in the series. LC has gone 8-10 all-time against the Petrels.
During the last meeting in the 2019-20 season, Oglethorpe claimed a 78-54 victory. From 2009-15, the Panthers won six straight games in the rivalry.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers conclude play at the USA South/SAA Classic Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Berry on the campus of Piedmont University in Demorest, Georgia.
Assistant Sports Information Director Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
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