SHREVEPORT, La. – The Ladies took a halftime lead for the first time in the young season, but a late third and early fourth quarter run lifted the Wildcats for the come-from-behind win as Centenary (0-2) fell to Louisiana College (1-0) 79-68 Thursday night, November 15.
Sophomore Darelzray Bellard hit a three to tie the game at 25 in the second. Louisiana College answered with a layup, but freshman Priya Ponia drained a three to give Centenary a 28-27 lead with 4:27 left in the second quarter – Centenary's first lead since 3-2.
Tied at 33 right before half, junior Deunya Small hit a triple and sophomore Bri Frierson made a lay-up to put the home team up five, their largest lead of the game. However, the Wildcats answered with a jumper at the buzzer to cut the Ladies lead to 38-35 at the break.
Louisiana College led 43-42 in the third quarter before senior Savanah Doty and Ponia hit back-to-back threes. However, a three, a fastbreak layup, and another three by RyDeja McQuarn put the visitors up three. A split from the line stretched the Louisiana College lead to four. Centenary retied the game on a pair from the charity stripe by Frierson and a Doty jumper. Louisiana College led 60-58 going into the fourth on a fastbreak layup by Kourtney McGhee.
Doty turned in a solid game for the Ladies, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. Frierson added 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and a 4-for-5 mark from the line.
Louisiana College took control of the contest with a 15-1 run to open the fourth. Alexi Lege made a jumper in the paint while Jayla Landrum made a fastbreak layup. Landrum added a jumper before Doty split from the line for the Ladies. Janae Smith added a jumper and a layup to push the deficit to double-digits for good. A Kristin Breaux jumper and a three from Landrum put the visitors up 75-59 with 4:36 left in the contest.
The Wildcats used a 51-29 lead on the boards and a 50-26 edge in points in the point for the win. McQuarn led the Wildcats with 17 points while Landrum came off the bench for 13. Smith added 12 points, eight boards, and five assists.
The Ladies are back in action for the fourth annual Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference/Southern Athletic Association Crossover this weekend at Hendrix. Centenary takes on the host Warriors Saturday, November 17, at 3 p.m.
