BANNER ELK, N.C. –
MaKayla Smith finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, four steals, and four assists, while
Jala Holloman and
Aurora Roberts added 19 and 16 points respectively, to lead the Lees-McRae women's basketball team to a 79-67 win over visiting Southern Wesleyan to move to 7-4 on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court this season.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 79; Southern Wesleyan – 67
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (9-15/9-13), Southern Wesleyan (6-20/5-17)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Smith shot 8 of 11 from the floor and 2 of 3 from distance to pace the Bobcats in scoring.
- Holloman shot 5 of 9 from behind the three-point line to go along with three rebounds, and three assists.
- Roberts chipped in five rebounds, three assists, one block, and five steals.
- Malikah Meyers and McKenna Kersat both added eight points, with Meyers also tallying five rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
- Lees-McRae grabbed momentum from the opening tip as they opened on a 12-5 run and held off a late Warrior rally to hold a 23-18 lead at the first intermission.
- After Southern Wesleyan evened the score at 32-32 with just over a minute left in the first half, the Bobcats closed the half on a 5-0 run, including a buzzer-beating jumper by Kersat, to take a 37-32 halftime advantage.
- The Warriors reclaimed the lead in the third stanza and held a slim 52-51 advantage at the final intermission.
- Lees-McRae rallied in the opening minutes of the fourth frame and used a three-pointer by Holloman to reclaim a 63-62 lead with just over six minutes remaining.
- The Bobcats made timely baskets down the stretch to clinch the conference win.
- Lees-McRae held a 20-9 advantage in fastbreak points and outscored the visitors 13-6 in second-chance points.
FOR THE FOES:
- Three Warriors scored in double figures, led by Brittany Mack with 20 points and eight rebounds.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcat will travel to Tigerville, South Carolina tomorrow at 5 p.m. for another Conference Carolinas contest.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
