The Lady Bruins roared back in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter on Thursday night, but it wasn't enough as the team fell to LaGrange College 68-64 in LaGrange, Georgia. With the loss, the team drops to 1-3 on the season.
"We had a brief spot in the second half where we lost out composure and as a result we dug ourselves into a hole," Bruins Head Coach Mike LeViere said. "We did a great job to regain composure and right the ship as we got back into the game and had a chance to win. We played really good ball tonight especially for this early in the season."
The Bruins came into the game on the heels of their first win of the year on Saturday. The Bruins would be playing the first of three-straight road games on consecutive days as they took the court against the Panthers. LaGrange came into the game having won their opener on the season.
Kylee Leffew got the Bruins going early on with a layup and Sarah Thomsen added back to back threes, but the Panthers stayed with BJU step for step as the score was tied 8-8. Both teams traded baskets during the next possessions but Mykelli Taylor sparked a Panthers rally to close the quarter as she hit two threes to help give LaGrange an 18-14 lead after the opening quarter.
Taylor hit another three to start the second quarter for the Panthers as they increased their lead. The Bruins chipped away at the lead as Thomsen again knocked down an outside shot to pull the Bruins within one 25-24. The Bruins regained the lead as a three by Madison Shupe put the Bruins on top 31-29 with just over a minute to go in the half. The Panthers were able to knock down a free throw, but the Bruins held the lead at the break 31-30.
As the second half began, the Bruins came out looking to extend their lead. Instead, the Panthers re-took the lead as the two teams stayed close in the early minutes of the quarter. The Panthers then caught fire as they went on a 15-0 run capped off by a layup by Daijah Cousins. As a result, the close game was now a 53-37 deficit for the Bruins. Still, the team continued to battle and closed the gap as they trailed 54-45 at the end of the quarter.
With just one quarter to play, the Bruins knew they were within striking distance of battling back for the win. Sydney Bedsaul scored on a layup in the paint and the team was able to convert free throw attempts as tey slowly edged closer to the Panthers lead. Still, LaGrange continued to maintain the upper hand as they knocked down key shots at key times. With under a minute to play, Madison Shupe made a layup to cut the lead to 66-61. Shupe followed it up on the next possession with a three to make it 67-64, but the Bruins ran out of time to complete the comeback as they fell 68-64.
"We want to be growing everyday and competing at a good level," Coach LeViere said. "We just want to learn from today and be better tomorrow as a result."
Shupe led the Bruins with 18 points while Sarah Thomsen had 11 on the night for the team. Kylee Leffew had a strong game for the team with 8 points and 13 rebounds. The Bruins won the rebounding margin 45-38, but twenty-three turnovers hurt the team throughout the game.
Next up, the Bruins will be back in action tomorrow as they face Welch College in LaGrange, Georgia.
