The setting was perfect. LeeUniversity women's basketball coach Marty Rowe was going for his 200th career coaching win. He was pitted against one of the most successful coaches (Auburn Montgomery’s Steve Crotz) in NAIA basketball and his Lady Flames could take a two-game lead in the SSAC with a victory.

Just like a perfect ending in the movies, Rowe’s team battled for 40 minutes and pulled out an exciting 61-55 win over the visiting Auburn University Montgomery Lady Senators. Rowe accomplished the 200 wins in less than nine years of coaching college basketball at BresciaUniversity and for the past three years at Lee.

At Brescia his Lady Bearcats posted 131 wins and four straight Brescia teams advanced to the NAIA National Tournament. His final Lady Bearcat squad reached the NAIA Final Four and Rowe has directed two straight Lee teams to national tournament play. His current Lady Flames are ranked fifth.

"It was an exciting and well played basketball game," said Rowe after the Lady Flames improved to 20-3 on the year and grabbed a two-game lead in the tight Southern States Athletic Conference race by improving to 13-1. AUM drops to 20-4 overall and 11-3 in conference play.

"In a way you hate to celebrate a victory like this with a win over one of your best friends (coach Steve Crotz)," admitted Rowe, "but this was big win for our team. All the credit for 200 wins goes to the outstanding young ladies I have coached over the last nine years and the assistant coaches that I have been blessed with."

Ironically, two of the players that Rowe brought with him from Brescia to Lee were key factors in the closing minutes and helped spark the late rally in Saturday’s win. Jessica Still nailed pressure-packed free throws and Jan Dodson was outstanding on the boards and on the defensive end. Still scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half to pace the Lady Flames’ attack. She also had a team-leading six rebounds. Dodson grabbed five rebounds, dished off three assists and had a block and a steal in 36 minutes of playing time.

"Jessica and Jan have been key factors for me and this team since I came to Lee," added Rowe. "My first year, most of our scoring came from those two, but now we have several girls who can score the basketball and that is what has made us an even better team." He singled out players like Allison Rader and freshman Katie Nelson as making a big difference.

Lee also got quality minutes and numbers from guard Fallon Lee. She did most of her damage in the first half, but also hit crucial free throws down the stretch and finished with 15 points and three assists. Aaron Richmond returned after missing four games with an ankle injury and tallied 13 points.

The Lady Flames led by only 25-24 at the break. It was a hard-nosed, physical battle from the opening tip and Lee had to go to the line and connect on free throws to salt the victory away. They attempted 20 freebies in the game and hit a solid 16 (80 percent). AUM got only 10 chances from the charity stripe but cashed in on nine.

The Lady Senators managed to stay in the contest by winning the battle of the boards 32-24 and collecting 17 offensive rebounds. Lee shot an impressive 48 percent from the field (20-of-43) and made 5-of-11 3-point attempts. The Lady Senators shot just 36 percent from the field (20-of-55) and made good on 6-of-18 treys. Both defenses stood tall in the battle. AUM forced 17 Lee floor mistakes and the Lady Senators turned the basketball over 19 times.