By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – Coming off a critical victory over league-leading Berea the night before, a 17-4 third quarter run was too much for LaGrange (17-6, 11-3 CCS) to overcome on the back half of a back-to-back as they fell by an 82-67 score to Belhaven (15-7, 9-5 CCS) in an NCAA Division III women's basketball game on Saturday, February 11.
Freshman guard Laila Battle (Smyrna, Ga.) continued to lead from off the bench as she delivered 15 points, four steals and three assists in 22 minutes to pace the Panthers while sophomore guard Zyhia Johnson (Homerville, Ga.) finished with 12 points and six boards.
Senior guard Gracie Brunel (Broxton, Ga.) produced a solid all-around effort with 11 points, four caroms, three assists and three steals and freshman forward Amanda McLendon (Orlando, Fla.) hauled in eight boards – four on the offensive glass – and senior center Jada Strickland (Fairburn, Ga.) added eight points.
After deadlocking at 5-5 just 2:22 in the Blazers would put together a 10-1 run over the next 3:11 to increase that margin to 15-6. From there they would lead by at least five points and as many as eight, 22-14, before three LaGrange free throws made it a 22-17 score after one.
LC would close to within four, 26-22, just over two minutes into the second quarter but from there it would belong to Belhaven. Over the next 7:54 they would methodically build a 43-26 lead that they would take into the break, that after leading by as many as 18 at one point.
That stretch would set the tone for the rest of the game as the Blazers extended their lead to 54-31 by the 6:15 mark and would hold a 20-point advantage, 67-47, by the end of the third. The Panthers would rebound in the fourth to win the quarter 20-15 but it would be too little, too late as BU closed out the 82-67 victory.
Ebony Gayden led the way for Belhaven with a double-double of 19 points and 10 boards along with five assists and four steals while Shantashia John finished with 15 points, nine assists and five caroms. Xhiir Burgess added 13 points and six boards with Allaijah Gamble notching 11 points and six rebounds and Kortne Lee rounding things out with nine points, five boards and four assists.
The Panthers enter the final week of the regular season when they head up the mountain to face Covenant on Wednesday, February 15. Game time is set for 5 p.m. in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
NOTES
Following the victory over Berea, LC found themselves within a game of the Collegiate Conference of the South leaders but now face a more difficult path to a regular season title with the loss to Belhaven.
