Written by: Danny Talbert
Panthers beat the Blazers 64-56 in a fourth quarter comeback win (Jan. 24). LC finishes the regular season 2-0 against Belhaven.
First half details
The Panthers offense started the game off looking rusty. In four minutes, LC had scored two points, while shooting 11% from the field and 0% from three. Despite the shooting woes, the Panthers found themselves only down 8-6 with four minutes left in the first quarter. At the end of one, LC was down 16-12. Zyhia Johnson had a team-high four points. The Panther shots continued to struggle to fall in the second quarter. With five minutes left in the half, LC was down 21-17 and looked out of sorts. That was until Johnson hit back-to-back threes after the five-minute media time-out. Each team traded points the rest of the way. At half, the visitors lead 30-24.
As a team, the Panthers shot 28% from the field and 50% from three. Johnson had a team-high 11 points, while shooting 44% from the field and 40% from three.
Second half details
Early in the second half, the Panthers offense began to come alive. Specifically, when smooth LC ball movement created a wide-open Taylor Smith jump shot. This was by far the best LC possession of the game, and it had the Panthers bench on their feet. With five minutes left in the third, it was tied at 34. Over the final five minutes of the quarter, BU was able to grab a 42-36 lead. The Panthers were again able to claw their way back from being down with two back-to-back Johnson threes. With just six minutes remaining, LC trailed 51-49. The Panthers were able to grab the 52-51 lead when Laila Battle hit a jump shot and got the and-one call. LC was able to battle it out over the next three minutes and hold on to win 64-56.
Top Panther performances
Zyhia Johnson led the Panthers in scoring with 25 points, shooting 41% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. She also had eight rebounds and two assists.
Amanda Mclendon secured another double-double on the season after scoring 12 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The forward also shot an impressive 50% from the field tonight
Next game details
The Panthers take on Wesleyan next Tuesday (Jan. 30), at 5:30 p.m.
