Bobcats Edge Out Lady Braves in Overtime
On Jan. 6, the UNCP Women’s basketball team took on Georgia College at Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court.
But after a comeback into overtime, the Lady Braves lost 65-66 to the Bobcats.
Going into half time the Braves trailed the visiting Bobcats by a narrow three-point margin, but then came out determined to overcome a challenging first half.
They started the third period with a 10-0 run to take a seven-point lead and held at least a five-point lead until the fourth quarter.
The offensive onslaught was near nonexistent in the final period of regulation as the Braves only managed a pair of free throws and just two baskets until overtime ensued. In the first of two overtime games on the day for UNCP basketball, the lady braves were both elated then dismayed in the final minute of overtime.
After the Braves brought the score within one, junior guard Alecia Hardy managed to get a steal and score a nearly uncontested layup, which gave the Braves the lead with 23 seconds left on the clock.
However, it only took 10 seconds for Georgia College’s Ta’Asia Wright to drive the ball the length of the court and draw the foul that would put the Bobcats up by the single point that would be needed to seal the victory.
With 13 seconds left in the overtime period and hope still alive, the Braves’ last-ditch effort to regain the lead was attempted when freshman Melanie Horne, who had hit a clutch three-pointer prior to Hardy’s steal, shot, but was off the mark.
On an afternoon where, as a team, the Braves suffered a solemn defeat, two newcomers to the program set career highs for points scored. Freshman Tee Graham led the team in scoring, as she went 7-13 and racked up 17 points.
Junior guard Alecia Hardy recorded a career-best 15 points and tied for the team lead in steals on the day with four. Head coach John Haskins was proud of the overall defensive effort by his team, especially in the paint, as his team out-rebounded the Bobcats by a dozen and notched six more steals than their opposition.
“I told the girls that we really competed hard,” Haskins said. “They only had three offensive rebounds and we had 21, so our effort was pretty good, but the bottom line is that when people zone you, you got to be able to make some more of your shots.”
Coach Haskins voiced his displeasure for his team’s long-range shooting inefficiency, as the Braves were 2 for 26 on the afternoon on three-point attempt.
