Todd Ryals

Lady Wildcats Fall to HPU 81-71

12/16/2017 8:27:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

In their final home game of the 2017 portion of the schedule, the Louisiana College women's basketball team could not find the answer to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit against Howard Payne University. The 81-71 loss to the Yellow Jackets drops the Wildcats to 6-3 on the year and 2-2 in American Southwest Conference play. The women finish their 2017 schedule with a game Monday evening at #19 ranked Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Neither team, through the first five minutes of play, were able to control the up-and-down first quarter. The Wildcats trailed 12-11 with just over four minutes to go in the quarter but scored the next six points in a row to take their biggest lead of the quarter 17-12. LC then went cold shooting from the floor, going 0-for-6 to finish the quarter, while HPU score 11 straight to take the lead. Two free throws by Kourtney McGhee with made it a 23-19 at the end of the first 10 minutes of play.

The first half of the second quarter belonged to the visiting Jackets as they outscored the Wildcats 12-4 to push their lead into double figures at 35-23 by the media timeout. The Wilcats were able to get the lead into single digits on a few occasions but each time the Yellow Jackets would find an answer and reach the comforting double-digit advantage. HPU scored the final four points of the half to take the 44-31 lead into the break.

With work to do to find their way back into the game the Wildcats but Howard Payne continued to match LC when they would try and make head way. A good three-point shot from Taylor Payne at the six-minute mark cut the lead down to nine, but LC could not continue the momentum missing their next two field goals and two free throws.

Howard Payne matched the Wildcats shot for shot in the fourth quarter, preventing the Wildcats from cutting into the lead that they had established. The best chance came midway through the quarter on a quick 7-0 run by the Wildcats to make the score 65-59. HPU scored the next eight points in a row to stretch the lead back to 14 with less than three and a half minutes remaining.

Despite outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 61-41, a minus-8 turnover margin and a 34.5 shooting percentage saddled the Wildcats with their third loss of the year and second in the ASC. Brooke Jones, Janae Smith, and Jonika Walton all had 12 points each for the Wildcats, with Walton earning her first double-double at LC with 16 rebounds. Rachel Johnson also finished in double digits with 10 points in the game.

The Wildcats make their final road trip on the 2017 portion of the schedule Monday as they take on #19 Trinity at 6pm. LC plays their first four games in 2018 on the road in ASC play before their next home series on January 18 and 20 with East Texas Baptist and LeTourneau. Stay connected to Louisiana College women's basketball by following @LC_WBB on Twitter. For general athletics news follow @LC_Wildcats on Twitter or like Louisiana College Wildcats on Facebook.

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