AMERICUS, Ga. -- Lex Chatman made two last minute three-pointers to bring the score to one possession, 74-72, with 11 seconds left but the Saints converted both of their free throws to escape the Storm Dome with a 76-72 win Wednesday evening.
Mariya Trimble finished with her sixth career double-double as she put up 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
How It Happened: After a three-point conversion by Trimble to put the Lady Canes up 7-4, the Saints went on a 10-2 run. GSW didn't score until 48 seconds left in the first quarter as the Saints held a 14-9 lead going into the second quarter.
Midway through the second quarter, the Saints were steadily climbing and reached a 10-point lead, 26-16, with 5:46 left in the half. Coming out of the timeout, Chatman erupted with six points in three minutes to tie the game at 26 with 2:26 left in the half to force a Flagler timeout. The Saints scored on their following possession to take a 28-26 halftime lead.
With back-to-back threes, Lele Young was able to tie the game at 34 two minutes into the third quarter as GSW willingly regained the lead. A Chatman and Trimble layup pushed Flagler to take a timeout with 7:26 left in the third quarter. Flagler came out the timeout and tied the game but Trimble's sole three of the evening gave GSW the lead back. Throughout the final five minutes, both teams exchanged leads multiple times but a three-pointer by Madison Johnson gave GSW a 54-50 lead going into the final 10 minutes.
Flagler got quick steals to open the fourth quarter as they regained the lead. A layup by Chatman pushed the Lady Canes up 59-58 but the Saints quickly returned the favor with a layup of their own to get the lead back. The Saints went on a 10-2 run to a 68-61 lead with 1:42 left in the game. Johnson made two free throws to bring the game to 72-66 with 25 seconds left in hopes that GSW could pull off a comeback win.
The Saints took control of the paint, finishing with 58 points the paint while also getting the 49-33 rebound edge over the Lady Canes. GSW (8-8, 5-5 PBC) forced 21 turnovers that led to 25 points on the other end of the court as they also prevented Flagler from making any three-pointers.
Who Stood Out: Chatman was the second leading scorer with 16 points and four rebounds while Young and Johnson finished with 10 points each. Johnson came off the bench with seven boards and one block.
Tabitha Odabe led Flagler (11-5, 7-3 PBC) with 23 points and 16 rebounds followed by Chris Wilson, who finished with 19 points and seven rebounds.
Up Next: GSW will host Augusta University for Education Day Saturday, Jan. 26 for a 3:30 p.m. tip off time.