LaGrange celebrated Senior Day with a key 74-71 USA South win over Maryville on Saturday in Mariotti Gym. The Panthers (12-8, 7-4 USA South) avenged a 70-65 loss to the Scots (8-11, 5-6 USA South) on Tuesday of this week.
Seniors Jada Brown, Megan English, Morgan Grant, and Jalaya Lewis were honored before the game. Lewis had 14 points and had game highs of seven rebounds and five assists.
Gracie Brunel led LC and all scorers with 26 points, 18 coming in the second half. The Panthers got 12 points from Breonna Glover and 11 from Britney Chavez off the bench.
LC defeated Maryville for only the fifth time in 55 meetings. The Scots got 16 points from Jordan Heifner.
Coach Jasen Jonus
"All four of our seniors are great people. They are the keys for the LaGrange College women's basketball team into the future and help change the culture to a championship team. It's a legacy they hope to leave this year.
This is a huge win for us. I'm so proud of every player who got in the game. It started on the defensive end today. I talk about it every game, but our offense starts with defense. Gracie had some clutch baskets down the stretch that helped seal the win."
The Game
The game was tight with the biggest lead by either team was LC's 10-point lead in the second period. Maryville rallied over the final five minutes of the first half to go up 34-32 at the break.
The Scots held on to the lead in the third period and were up 54-51 going to to final quarter. Brunel's layup started a 7-0 spurt as the Panthers took a five point lead. Lewis pulled down a rebound and went the length of the court for a layup, then drained a 3-pointer to put the Panthers up 66-61 with 3:12 remaining.
Maryville came right back with seven straight points to grab a 68-66 lead. Brunel answered for the Panthers by completing a three-point lead to make it 69-68. After Heifner made the second of two free throws to tie the game, Brunel drove the lane to break the tie and a 71-69 lead. Ema Turner's free throw gave LC a 72-69 lead with 25 seconds left. Brunel iced the game with two free throws with five seconds showing for the 74-71 final.
The Panthers host West Division leader Berea on Sunday in Mariotti Gym at 2 p.m.. Berea defeated LC 72-65 back on Nov. 20.
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