Todd Ryals

Blistering Finish for Patriots Beats Wildcats

2/4/2017 7:11:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

The Louisiana College women went toe-to-toe with one of the hottest teams in the American Southwest Conference for the better part of three quarters on Saturday afternoon. A blistering final 12 minutes where UT Tyler shot an astounding 81.3% from the field including 4-for-6 from long range led to their 103-78 win over the Wildcats. The loss drops LC to 5-8 in conference play, still holding on to the fourth and final tournament spot in the ASC East, with three conference games remaining.

The game began with both teams trading baskets for the first three minutes of the quarter, until the Patriots hit back-to-back 3-pointers to take the lead for good for the rest of the quarter. A 10-4 run in the final two minutes of the quarter gave the Patriots a 22-15 at the end of the first quarter. The Wildcats worked their way to within a basket of the Patriots early in the second thanks to a 3-ball from Brooke Comeaux and an old fashioned three point play from Brooke Jones on consecutive trips on the offensive end.

As soon as the Wilcats were within striking distance, Tyler stretched their lead back to double figures with a 9-0 run, making the score 35-24 with 6:34 left in the first half. LC finished the half strong, outscoring the Patriots 17-10 over the final 5:22 of the quarter. Taylor Payne scored six points for the Wildcats during that stretch and Karlee Teddlie and Kourtney McGhee both hit 3-pointers to put LC down 45-41 at halftime.

The Wildcats carried their momentum through the first five plus minutes of the third quarter, erasing an eight point Tyler lead and getting within a single point at 57-56, thanks to a runner from McGhee with 4:20 left. Just as they did in the first half when LC got close, the Patriots rattled off 11 straight points over the next four minutes of play, before RyDeja McQuarn ended the stretch with a layup, but the Wildcats trailed 68-58 at the end of the third quarter.

The Patriots put on one of the best shooting performances a team could ever hope for in the fourth quarter to cement the victory. Tyler made 13-of-16 shots in the final 10 minutes of play, missing six total shots in the quarter, three each from the field and the free throw line. A normal shooting performance from the Wildcats, 42.9% in the fourth quarter, was no match for the Patriots hot hand to finish the game.

Three Wildcats finished in double figures in the loss, Taylor Payne and RyDeja McQuarn led the way for LC with 14 points each, and Kourtney McGhee had ended with 12. Brooke Jones fell one rebound and one point shy of another double-double with nine points and nine boards.

LC returns to action quickly as they will host rival ETBU on Monday night at H.O. West for "Fill the Fieldhouse". Fans and students are encouraged to wear their orange Monday night for both games against the Tigers and the first 100 students at the game will receive a free orange shirt. The Wildcats till hold the final tournament spot in the East, despite the loss Saturday, with a matchup with the top of the East, UT Dallas and the team still fighting to take the Wildcats spot Ozarks, next Saturday. Follow @LC_WBB or @LC_Wildcats on Twitter for up to date information on Louisiana College women's basketball and all Wildcat athletics.

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