By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
DECATUR, Ga. – LaGrange (14-4, 8-1 CCS) picked up their ninth win in their last 10 games as they used a strong first quarter to set the tone in what would be an 82-57 victory over Agnes Scott (2-18, 2-8 CCS) in an NCAA Division III women's basketball game on Saturday, January 28.
Sophomore guard Zyhia Johnson (Homerville, Ga.) led the Panthers with a team-high 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting to go with three boards, two assists and a pair of steals. She was joined by freshman forward Amanda McLendon (Orlando, Fla.) with 11 points, four caroms, two assists and two steals and senior guard Gracie Brunel (Broxton, Ga.) with eight points, five assists and four rebounds.
Sophomore guard Ema Turner (Dalton, Ga.) chipped in with eight points and a pair of assists with freshman guard Emerson Johnson (Kennesaw, Ga.) finishing with five points, four boards and two assists. Freshman guard Laila Battle (Smyrna, Ga.) added six points and four assists and freshman guard Leah Smith (Fayetteville, Ga.) rounded things out with five rebounds.
After exchanging the first two buckets it would be all LaGrange over the next 7:08 as they pounded out a 17-5 run behind six different scorers. They would then hold ASC scoreless over the remaining 1:20 of the opening period to take a 19-7 advantage to the second.
The lead would grow to 19 with a 17-7 opening run but the final 4:32 would belong to the Scotties. In that time frame they outscored LC 10-3 to head to the locker room with the score at 39-27. That margin would grow to 19 by the end of the third as the Panthers outscored Agnes Scott 25-18 to head to the fourth with a 64-45 advantage.
The final frame would be more evenly matched as LaGrange took 18 of the 30 points but even would do little for the Scotties as it would only lead to the eventual 25-point final margin.
Andrea Molina led the way for Agnes Scott with a game-high 16 points while Ellia Chance was the only other player in double-figures, finishing with 10 to go with five rebounds. Erika McLeod pulled down a game-high seven boards along with her four points and Haylah Spence had five points and five caroms. Taylor Brooks and Kayla Jones each chipped in with six points.
The Panthers are next in action when they return home on Tuesday, January 31 to host Huntingdon. Tip-off is set 5 p.m. in Mariotti Gym.
NOTES
With the victory LaGrange has now won six in a row and nine of their last 10 … that stretch began with a 73-56 decision over Salisbury (12/30) with the only loss coming at league-leading Berea, 81-59, on January 7.
