Johnson and Wales University snapped the Lady Bruins three-game win streak as the Wildcats overcame a fifteen point deficit to defeat the Bruins 79-66. The Lady Bruins who held a fifteen point lead in the middle of the third quarter were unable to convert down the stretch in the second half.
"We turned the ball over in the second half," said Bruins head coach Mike LeViere. "Once that happens we have to keep our composure, and tonight we didn't."
In the first quarter, the Bruins were able to force turnovers and generate easy baskets off those turnovers. As a result, the Bruins closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run, forging a 20-13 lead.
The Wildcats were able to cut the Bruins lead to three early in the second behind the offensive rebounding of center Ineesha Hankerson. But the Bruins, aided by three point shooting and stingy defense, were able to survive the initial run by the Wildcats building a 39-29 lead heading into halftime.
The Bruins continued to ride their momentum to begin the second half, building the lead to as many as fifteen with five minutes to go in the third quarter. But the Wildcats, were able to force turnovers and hit consecutive mid-range jumpers to go on a massive run to battle back and tie the game heading into the fourth quarter 48-48.Â
The teams exchanged leads three times at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Then, a stretch of bad offensive possessions for the Bruins allowed the Wildcats to pull away. The Wildcats continued execute in the half court, pounding the ball inside to Hankerson. Hankerson, who finished with thirty points and fourteen rebounds on the night, was able to convert two consecutive three point plays with two minutes left in the game, pushing the lead to thirteen. From that point on, the Wildcats cruised to the 79-66 victory.
The Bruins were led by Senior guard Syndey Bedsaul's sixteen points. Lauren Smith chipped in twelve points and eight rebounds, while Delaney Edwards added nine points and five rebounds.
With the loss, the Bruins fall to 9-14 on the season Next up, the Bruins will travel to face arch rival Pensacola Christian College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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