Final Score: Lipscomb: 63, North Alabama: 53
Location: Nashville, TN. (Allen Arena)
Records: Lipscomb: (20-11, 13-5 ASUN), North Alabama (15-15, 10-8 ASUN)
THE SHORT STORY
Lipscomb women's basketball battle back in the second half to secure their 20th win, advancing them to the semifinal round of the ASUN Championships.
The win gives the Bisons a share of the program record for wins in a single season, with a chance to set the record against the Liberty Flames on Wednesday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
North Alabama raced off to a four-point lead, holding the Bisons scoreless for the first two minutes of action. Jalyn Holcomb broke the ice for Lipscomb, putting in their first bucket on a deep two-pointer from the wing.
After the five-point swing that gave the Bisons the lead, the Lions went on an 8-0 run forcing a Lipscomb timeout. The Bisons managed to closed the gap the rest of the quarter but still trailed 15-11 after the first-quarter buzzer.
UNA went on a 10-0 run to open the second, flipping the momentum the Lion's way. Lipscomb was able to keep themselves within striking distance, finishing the half with a jumper by Claira McGowan for a 31-23 score at the break.
Lipscomb struggled shooting the basketball in the first half, going 9-of-30 from the field and 3-of-15 from three-point range. Meanwhile, the Lions finished 11-of-28 from the floor and knocked down six triples. The quarterfinal matchup moved to the second half as Bella Vinson began the Bisons' surge on a euro-step through the lane for two.
The Lions answered with a two on the other end, but Molly Heard put in a second-chance bucket off a missed three to cut their lead to six with 5:38 left in the frame.
Lipscomb continued to cut down their deficit as Heard knocked down a corner three to put the Bisons' within two. After a second-chance score by the Lions and an Aleah Sorrentino free throw, Blythe Pearson buried a corner three, trimming the Lions lead down to a point.
Heard eventually put the Bisons back in front (40-39) with another second-effort score in the painted area with 1:12 still to go in the third. Both teams traded baskets to close the quarter, but the Lions took a one-point advantage into the final frame of play.
Free throws from Pearson and Vinson gave the Herd the edge early in the fourth period. UNA returned to within one with two free throws at the 6:17 mark, but on the Bisons' ensuing possession, Jalyn Holcomb circled around the defense and converted on a left-handed layup.
With that three-point advantage and less than four left to play, Bella Vinson connected on a short midrange jumper in the painted area to push their lead to five. From there, Lipscomb outscored UNA 7-2 to close the contest, primarily due to their defensive performance down the stretch.
The Bisons held the Lions to 2-of-14 (14.3%) in the fourth quarter while converting on half of their shots offensively, allowing them to send home the Lions at Allen Arena 63-53 and punch their ticket into the semifinal round.
HERD NOTES
- The win gives the Bisons their 20th win of the season, tied for the most in program history.
- Molly Heard and Blythe Pearson led the Bisons with 14 points a piece.
- Lipscomb shot 36.1 percent from the floor and forced the Lion into a 29.5 clip.
- The Bisons won the battle on the board 52-33 and snagged 14 offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second-chance points.
- Coach Sumski's squad dominated the paint outscoring UNA 32-16 down low.
- Lipscomb outscored the Lions in the second half 40-22.
UP NEXT
Lipscomb will take on the No. 2 seed Liberty Flames in the semifinal round of the ASUN Championships on Wednesday, March 8, at 6:00 p.m. CT.
