Todd Ryals

Lady Wildcats Falter Late

1/4/2018 9:17:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

The 2017-18 basketball season resumed Thursday evening for the Louisiana College women as they made their first American Southwest Conference road trip of the season. Despite a strong second quarter performance, the Lady Wildcats could not maintain their edge in the second half as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor pulled away late for the 79-67 win. LC returns to action Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas against Concordia University.

The first half was a tale of two quarters with the Cru taking the early advantage scoring 25 points in the first 10 minutes to take a comfortable 25-15 advantage into the second quarter. Over the final 3:38 of the quarter, Mary Hardin-Baylor enjoyed a 12-5 run to push their lead to double digits.

The second quarter however, belonged to the Wildcats. LC came out firing through early parts of the quarter, going on a 16-5 run in just over three minutes of action. Three point shots from RyDeja McQuarn and Rachel Johnson chipped away at the lead opening space around the basket for Zharian Maxmillion and Brooke Jones to put the Wildcats on top. The remainder of the quarter featured three ties and six lead changes as the teams battled toward the half. A free throw by the Cru with nine second left put them on top 41-40 after the first 20 minutes of play.

The close play continued into the third quarter with neither team able to separate themselves from the other. The Cru made a small run to push their lead to eight at 57-49, but the Wildcats came right back with five points in a row to get back within a single basket. A jumper from Jones with just over a minute remaining got LC within three at 61-58 by the end of the quarter.

The game remained back-and-forth through the first five minutes of the final quarter with McQuarn giving the Wildcats the lead at the 6:31 mark and Maxmillion tying the game at 65 with 5:39 left on a free throw. Four turnovers and a 1-for-8 mark from the floor by LC over the final five minutes allowed the Cru to pull away and end the game on a 14-2 run to take the 79-67 victory.

Three Wildcats finished in double figures in the game with Brook Jones leading the way with 19 points, adding four rebounds. Junior guard RyDeja McQuan added 14 points, her best total of the season, and senior Kourtney McGhee added 12 points with six assists.

The Wildcats take on Concordia Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. in Austin. Live coverage, provided by Concordia University, will be available online at www.lcwildcats.net. 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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