The Southern States Athletic Conference win allowed the 18-2, 11-1 Lady Flames to stay just ahead of Auburn University Montgomery women. It was the 12th straight win for the Lady Flames and the first time coach Marty Rowe’s team had been able to win at Brewton-Parker.
Still finished the hard fought win with 23 points and now has 1007 markers in her 2 1/2-years career at Lee. She also dished off four assists and grabbed four rebounds. “J" has always been able to shoot the basketball,” said Rowe. “When she comes out and plays with confidence, there are not a lot of better college players.”
During the entire first half and for 19 minutes of the second stanza, the contest was nip and tuck. In fact, the Lady Barons were up by seven points with just over 30 seconds remaining in the first half. A quick goal by Jessica Lucas and a 3-point basket by Still just before the halftime buzzer sounded cut the Brewton-Parkers margin to only 30-28 at the break.
Lee came out strong in the early part of the second half, but the nation’s leading scorer Monique Martin (averaging 32 points per game) and the entire Brewton-Parker club would not go away. The two talented SSAC clubs were dead even when Lee freshman Katie Nelson stepped to the front in the final two minutes. She tallied six of her 10 points and put the Lady Flames on top to stay.
Still and Nelson had plenty of help. Jan Dodson joined the double-figure ranks with 14 markers. She teamed with Nelson and Allison Rader as the rebounding leaders. All three pulled down six boards. Rader, one of the smallest players on the court, battled on every play and posted six points while handing off a team-high five assists.
Fallen Lee played 33 minutes and was another key factor in one of Lee’s biggest wins of the season. She totaled 11 points as four Lady Flames scored in double figures.
“I’m pleased with the efforts of all our girls,” said Rowe. “We were able to beat a much improved basketball team tonight and we got some excellent play off the bench. With star guard Aaron Richmond out of the line-up with an ankle injury, Morgan Monico came on and played well. She had three rebounds and claimed one steal. McConico went to the floor several times to tie up a Lady Baron or come away with a loose ball.
Martin had been averaging over 32 points a game coming into Thursday’s match. Still and her teammates held the high-scoring ace to 26 points. Martin displayed her athletic ability by posting 10 rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and three steals.
Kanyatta Gatling was strong on the glass with 12 rebounds and nine points. Candice Clark enjoyed a fine game with 10 rebounds and six assists. Lee’s defense held the high-scoring Brewton-Parker team to just 34 percent shooting from the field. The losers fought back by making 4-of-9 treys and 18-of-30 freebies. Lee shot a solid 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. They hit 13-of-19 foul shots.
Lee cut way down on turnovers, especially in the second half and finished with only 15 for the game. The Lady Barons were guilty of 20 floor mistakes. The host team won the rebounding battle 43-38 and, in fact, missed several point-blank putbacks.
