Lady Wildcats Finish as 2017 ASC Runners Up

2/25/2017 10:16:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

The 2017 Louisiana College Lady Wildcats women's basketball team ended their season on Saturday night in a place no one thought they might end up, the American Southwest Conference Tournament Championship game. After an incredible run knocking out the tournament host Howard Payne University and East Division runner up University of Texas at Tyler on consecutive nights, the Wildcats went toe-to-toe with the nationally ranked University of Texas at Dallas for four quarters, but fell to the Comets 67-60. Junior center Brooke Jones and freshman guard Rachel Johnson were named to the 2017 ASC All-Tournament Team.

Going up against the conferences best defense all season, the Wildcats knew that they had to take advantage of every opportunity on the offensive side while doing their best to limit the Comets attack with solid defense of their own. For four quarters the Wildcats defense kept the Comets off balance but the stellar shooting that carried the Wildcats over the Patriots, wasn't there to boost LC in the championship game.

The Comets jumped out to a 10-2 lead through the first five minutes of the game, but the Wildcats were able to settle into the game and outscore the Comets over the next three minutes 9-4 and tied the game at 14 with just under two minutes to go in the quarter. The Comets scored the final four points of the quarter unanswered on a layup and a pair of free throws to hold am 18-14 lead after the first quarter.

The Comets built a seven point lead through the first six minutes of the second quarter, but the Wildcats socred four quick points after a turnover to pull within a single possesion at 27-24 with 3:14 remaining in the half. Over the final 90 seconds of the half UTD scored six points to push their lead back to nine before Karlee Teddlie hit a runner in the lane as the buzzer sounded to make the score 33-26 at the half.

The Wildcats fell behind by double digits on the first bucket of the second half and trailed 43-33 at the mid way point of the third quarter. The Wildcats cut into the lead and cut within six but wasn't able to keep the Comets from answering on their end. LC scored the final four points of the half to carry some momentum into the fourth, but still trailed at the end of the third 48-41.

LC used the momentum at the end of the third to find their way back to within a basket when Rachel Johnson hit a 3-pointer two minutes into the fourth to make the score 50-47 Comets. UTD, though would make two baskets before LC would make another and the lead was back to two possesions. With 2:20 left in the game, the Wildcats trailed by 10, 61-51, and started their final push to win the 2017 tournament. The Wildcats made a quick 7-2 run to pull back within five, but the Comets converted on 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on to their lead and win the 2017 conference championship.

The Wildcats had a better shooting percentage from the field and behind the arc, but were outrebounded in the game 42-36 but the biggest disparity came in the numnber of free throws. The Wildcats made 5-of-9 free throws in the game and the Comets converted on 17-of-27 shots from the charity stripe. All-Tournament team member Brooke Jones had her second double-double of the tournament with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Brooke Comeaux and Rachel Johnson both had double digit points in the game with 12 points and 11 points each.

The Wildcats finished the season with a tremendous run on the shoulders of a group of uber talented freshman. LC ended with a 10-16 record overall missing out on a trip to the NCAA Tournament by seven points. The conference season awards will be announced on Tuesday of next week, with the Wildcats hoping to add to their list of award winners.

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