Box Score
Maggi Ford scored 26 second-half points to power the Lady Bruins to an emotional 68-67 comeback win over Johnson and Wales University on Tuesday night. "If the shot was there I was going to take it," Ford said. "We started working together as a team and Coach Emily came to me before the second half and told me that I didn't have that fire in my eyes of 'give me the ball, I am going to score.' So that was my mentality."

The Bruins entered Tuesday night after getting back on track with a 77-47 win over Toccoa Falls College on Saturday night. The team was 10-11 on the season and was looking to get back to .500 on the season. The Johnson and Wales University Wildcats entered the game with a 5-11 record, but were coming off back to back wins.

Julia Wright got things going for the Bruins as she scored 5 of the Bruins first 6 points to help the team jump out to an early 11-4 lead. The Wildcats responded by going on a 16-2 run to regain the lead. The Bruins struggled with turnovers as the team committed 11 in the first half. The team also struggled defensively in allowing JWU to gain open looks inside. The Wildcats took advantage as Jaquana Pauling's 12 first half points helped to propel the Wildcats to a 40-26 lead at the break.

"We didn't look like us," Coach Mike LeViere said. "We struggled defensively and struggled with turning the ball over. We needed to be us and play our game and encourage each other to play better."

In the second half, the Wildcats extended their lead to 45-28 forcing the Bruins to take a timeout. From there, Maggi Ford took the game on her shoulders and knocked down back to back three's to give the Bruins some life. The team began to force several turnovers and used the opportunities to convert on the offensive end. With the lead in sight, Maggi Ford continued to power the Bruins offensively with basket after basket as she seemingly couldn't miss in the second half.

Ford hit another three to give the Bruins a 63-62 lead with just over 5 minutes to play. The two teams went back and forth trading baskets and the lead with victory in their sights. A layup by Justina Tyler gave the Wildcats a 67-66 lead with just seconds remaining. On the next possession, Maggi Ford gained isolation with the defense and drew a foul with just 6 seconds to play. She made two clutch free-throws to give the Bruins a 68-67 lead. On the ensuing possession, the Wildcats shot fell short completing the dramatic come-from-behind Bruins victory 68-67.

"This was a good picture of our team tonight," Coach LeViere said. "We didn't do everything perfect but the girls fought really hard and scrapped and clawed their way back into the game. We had goals that we wanted to accomplish that we didn't but we did what we needed to do to come away with the win. Now we celebrate a little bit but we have another tough opponent coming in on Friday so we have to get ready for that."

Maggi Ford set a school record with 32 points while shooting 50% from the field and hitting 6 three-point shots. Kendra Jeffcott was the only other player in double figures with 12 points and 9 rebounds. The Bruins won the rebounding battle 31-22 and were able to capitalize on key free throws and offensive opportunities down the stretch for the win. The victory moves the Lady Bruins back to .500 at 11-11 on the season.

Next up, the team will welcome Warren Wilson College on Friday night.