The women's basketball team cruised to an easy 84-28 USA South win over Wesleyan in Mariotti Gym on Monday. The Panthers are 8-5 and 3-1 in conference play after their 31st straight win over the winless Wolves (0-9, 0-3 USA South).
Junior Gracie Brunel led all scorers with 19 points. Senior Jalaya Lewis followed with 15 points, making 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Freshman Bryanna Sanders had 10 points coming off the bench. The Panthers' three post players: Jada Strickland, Breonna Glover, and Bobbi Whitaker combined for 21 points and 15 rebounds. All 10 Panthers who dressed out got in the scoring column.
Coach Jasen Jonus
"It's a new year and a new mind set. The rest of our schedule is all conference games. We knew coming into the game we needed to show intensity since we have had trouble with that at the start of games during the year. It's a W tonight and we learned a lot, so I'm excited to get the rest of the conference games rolling. Its a tough conference to play in.
"With Strickland, Whitaker, and Glover we need a good inside presence heading into the tough games against the Maryvilles and Piedmonts. If these three step up they could be the difference makers at this run for a championship.
First Quarter
Brunel scored the game's first five points and the Panthers never trailed the rest of the way. Danielle Childs hit a 3-pointer for Wesleuan to make it 5-3. Childs' trey would be the Wolves only field goal of the first half. LC was stuck on a 7-3 lead for a six-minute span. The Panthers went on a 12-1 run over the final 2:37 to go up 19-4.
Second Quarter
The Panthers limited Wesleyan to a single free throw in the period, outscoring the Wolves 20-1. On the defensive end, the Panthers held Wesleyan to just 1-for-23 shooting in the first half. The Panthers scored the first 15 points of the quarter to build a 34-4 lead. At the half, Brunel and Lewis had combined for 23 of the Panthers' 39 points.
Third Quarter
Wesleyan mustered some offense in the quarter, but the Panthers continued to pad their lead. LC led 62-17 by the end of the period. The Panthers had four treys included in their 23 points, two from Brunel, while Lewis and Haleigh Reeves each had one.
Fourth Quarter
LC doubled up the Wolves in the final period, outscoring them 22-11. The Panthers had 18 points in the paint, finishing with a 40-4 edge for the game. LC held a 49-35 rebounding edge, with Megan English pulling down a team high 10. The Panthers shot 55.6% in the fourth quarter, finishing the game at 49.3%.
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