Final Score: Lipscomb: 68, North Alabama: 76
Location: Nashville, Tenn. (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: 8-17 (3-7 ASUN), North Alabama: 11-13 (6-6 ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY: Despite a big fourth quarter run and
Blythe Pearson's first career double-double, Lipscomb fell to North Alabama 76-68 Monday afternoon marking Lipscomb's seventh-straight loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a slow start from both sides, the offense finally heated up as the squads traded points over the first six minutes for a 10-10 ballgame at the first media timeout.
Out of the break, North Alabama picked up its defense, holding Lipscomb without a score over the next 2:46, but
Casey Collier broke the drought with a drive to the basket, putting Lipscomb back within a possession. With the last possession of the quarter, the Lions scored with just seconds left, taking a 17-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
North Alabama increased its lead with the first three points of the second quarter and the Bisons found themselves at a 20-14 deficit with eight minutes to go in the half.
Maddie Cook started to close in on the lead with a layup and Collier followed it up with a triple. The quick 5-0 Lipscomb run got Lipscomb back within a point, 20-19.
North Alabama locked back in on offense, making four straight field goals to jump back out to its biggest lead of the afternoon, 31-24. The Lions continued to build on the lead and used a 12-2 run over nearly five minutes to jump ahead 12 points with just over a minute remaining in the half.
Finishing on a 9-0 run, North Alabama took a 40-26 lead into the halftime break. The Lions shot an impressive 58 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc in the first half and held Lipscomb to 34 percent and 33 percent.
After trading buckets for the first minutes of the third quarter,
Bella Vinson was able to get Lipscomb back within 10 when she finished at the rim through contact and converted the old fashioned three-point play with 5:10 left to play in the stanza.
North Alabama responded and got back out to a 14-point lead when it was fouled on a made three pointer and converted the and one opportunity. Another pair of free throws continued to increase its lead 55-41 at the 3:12 mark. The Lions went on to a 61-45 lead at the end of the third quarter.
In the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, Lipscomb pulled back within single digits with a 9-0 run, capped off by a
Blythe Pearson three to make things 63-55 with six minutes left in the game.
Lipscomb's run continued with two more big three pointers by
Jalyn Holcomb and
Sydney Shelton and Lipscomb had North Alabama on the ropes, shaving the lead 65-61 after outscoring the Lions 15-2 over 5:30.
North Alabama stopped the bleeding with a triple of its own, but Shelton kept pace on Lipscomb's end with a layup. The Bisons pulled within five points with 30 seconds left, but North Alabama was clutch at the charity stripe down the stretch and ultimately defeated the Bisons 68-76.
HERD NOTES
- Jalyn Holcomb led Lipscomb in scoring with 15 points, marking her eighth double-digit performance. She also added six dimes and two rebounds.
- Pearson contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
- Collier also contributed 14 points and five assists.
- North Alabama shot 51 percent on the afternoon while Lipscomb shot 44 percent.
UP NEXT
The Bisons have another quick turnaround with a game against Jacksonville State Thursday, Feb. 17 in Allen Arena.
