TYLER, Texas – Louisiana Christian University's women's basketball team pulled a victory from the proverbial jaws of defeat Saturday and defeated Texas College 54-53.
 
Paola Abad Prieto's last-second heave as time expired capped a wild finish and left the small, but enthusiastic crowd at Texas College's venerable Gus F. Taylor Gymnasium stunned at the culmination of events of the last 10 seconds of play.
 
After dominating the third quarter and leading most of the fourth, the Steers watched their lead slip away in the waning seconds of the final period. Abad Prieto knocked down a pair of free throws after a foul by Aliyah Solis that followed LCU's Jordan Barfield forcing a key steal with the Wildcats trailing by one. The free throws gave LCU a 52-51 lead with eight seconds remaining in the contest.
 
Following Abad Prieto's free throws, Texas College's Dyneshia Bailey drove the length of court and sank a layup through LCU's defenders to reclaim the lead for the Steers with 2.1 seconds remaining. The clock failed to stop after the basket and when horn sounded, the Texas College student section rushed the court in excitement thinking the game was over.
 
Despite the excited confusion – one of Texas College's players even suffered a minor injury in the pile of teammates and fans – the game's officials managed to get the teams to stay on the court. With the help of the game's public address announcer, the court was cleared of fans to play the final 2.1 seconds of regulation.
 
LCU head coach Anna Phillips called a timeout to set up a play that would be inbounded from in front of the Wildcats' bench. When the teams returned to the court, LCU's Noa Fernandez Fuentes attempted to get the ball to Miya McKinney in the lane for a layup or close-range jumper. McKinney was unable control of the ball before it went out of bounds.
 
But before home fans could celebrate again, another game clock mishap – this time the clock failed to start upon a player's contact with the ball – necessitated the officials to conference again. To the disbelief of Texas College's fans (and even to some in the small group of LCU fans and administrators) the officials opted to negate the play entirely and replay the last 2.1 seconds.
 
The 'Cats were given the ball again at the same inbound spot. This time Fernandez passed to her countrywoman Abad Prieto at the 3-point line; she took a dribble inside the arc and with her offhand, tossed in an off-balance shot that gave the 'Cats an improbable victory.
 
LCU (13-9, 10-5 RRAC), which only suited up seven players for their final Red River Athletic Conference road game of the season, was led by McKinney's 20-point, 20-rebound effort. It was McKinney's 10th consecutive double-double and 17th of the season in 22 games.
 
Claire Borot scored 15 points for the 'Cats, while Abad Prieto chipped in seven points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Bailey led the Steers with 15 points.
 
The Steers ceded the first 12 points of the game to LCU and trailed 27-18 at halftime before outscoring their guests 27-13 in the third quarter. The loss was a blow to Texas College's chances to qualify for the RRAC Tournament, as the Steers (7-17, 4-13 RRAC) trail nearby rival Jarvis Christian by two games for the final unclinched berth with three contests remaining. Texas College visits Jarvis on Monday.
 
Meanwhile, the Wildcats maintained their hold on third place in the RRAC standings. They host Xavier (La.) at LCU's H.O. West Fieldhouse on Monday.

– LCU –