Controversy In Storm Dome

Controversy In Storm Dome

AMERICUS, Ga. -- With six seconds left in the game, both Georgia College's Harper Vick and the referees spoiled Georgia Southwestern women's basketball team chance to win the game as the Bobcats snuck out the Storm Dome Wednesday night with a 68-67 Peach Belt win. 

Traveling, walking or taking too many steps with the ball is what many may call it but the refs didn't as GC's Vick walked inside the paint for the go-ahead bucket. 

How It Happened: A layup by Tyra Smith pushed the Lady Canes up by six points, 11-5, midway through the first quarter. Feeling down, the Bobcats started to scratch. The went on a 7-0 run within ninety seconds to take a 12-11 lead that didn't last long. Brianna Perry ended the run with a layup to retake the lead with three minutes left in the quarter. GSW went into the second quarter up, 17-14. 

Back-to-back turnovers by GSW led GC to taking a 19-17 lead within one minute into the second quarter. Another score by GC forced a timeout for the Lady Canes, who was down by four. Lex Chatman drained a three-pointer that gave GSW the lead. Morgan Towells answered with a shot of her own for the 30-27 lead before both teams went on a drought. A three-pointer by Jamesha Samuel put GSW ahead at halftime, 35-31.

GSW came out of halftime with victory on their mind, as they started to dominate the game. A three by Perry gave GSW a 10-point lead, 48-38, midway through the third quarter right before the media timeout. Successful free throws by both teams put the score at 52-43 going into the final 10 minutes.

In the fourth quarter, GC went on several scoring runs as they held their own on both sides of the court. They opened up with a 9-4 run to cut the lead to 56-52, with 6:33 remaining in the game. Feeling the pressure, GSW called a timeout as Towells and Mariya Trimble expanded the lead coming out the timeout. Up by one point, Perry expanded the lead to five after a layup and a successful three point play, 66-61, with 1:44 left. The Bobcats never showed any signs of letting up as they tied the game at 66 seconds later. 

With 12 seconds left, Perry drained one-of-two free throws that led to a timeout by GC. Vick, who was GC's second leading scorer, entered the game and drained a shot inside the paint for the one point lead. A missed layup by Towells gave GC the 68-67 comeback win. 

GC shot 14-of-18, going 78 percent from the free throw line while GSW went 15-for-19, for 78.9 percent. Of the 22 forced turnovers, GSW equaled with 22 points on the opposite end but they were dominated inside the paint - GC ended with 46 points in the paint, including the game-winner. 

Who Stood Out: Towells, who almost got a double-double, led GSW with 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Perry led with 19 points, three steals and two blocks as both, Towells and Perry, finished 100 percent from behind the arc. 

GC was led by Erin Drynan, who finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Vick and Keyonna Wesley finished with 12 points each. 

Up Next: The Lady Canes will travel to Young Harris, Ga., where they will take on the Mountain Lions, Saturday, Feb. 9 for a 1:30 p.m. start time.