Falcons Fall in Overtime to Columbus State, 63-53
MONTEVALLO, Ala. - The University of Montevallo women's basketball team (14-13, 7-10 PBC) fell in an overtime battle with Columbus State University (17-10, 11-6 PBC), 63-53. The Falcons used a late second half run to take a lead with 14 seconds left in regulation but a clutch three pointer by the Lady Cougars sent the game into overtime. The loss ended UM's hope of making it to back-to-back conference tournaments under second year head coach Brittney Ezell. UM finished with a winning record for the first time since the 2004-05 season and it is only the second time UM has had a winning record since joining the NCAA in 1996.
Five seniors were honored prior to the game as they took to the court for the final time. Manal Cali (Northampton, England/Northampton School for Girls), Alicia Lewis (Youngsville, La./Comeaux), Tateshia Page (Tupelo, Miss./Lanier), Alex Sanabria (Miami, Fla./Miami) and Amanda Scott (Cullman, Ala./West Point) were all honored at the pregame ceremony.
Lewis hit a three pointer with 1:24 left in regulation which tied her for the record for most three-pointers in a single season at Montevallo since the Falcons joined the NCAA in 1996. She now shares the record of 66 threes in a season with Jennifer Hendricks (2004-08) who hit 66 during the 2007-08 season.
Cali led the team with a double-double as she scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Sanabria chipped in 13 points and five assists. Lewis had eight points while junior Shan Jones (Hartselle, Ala./Hartselle) scored eight points and had five rebounds.
The Falcons jumped out to an early 10-3 lead but the Lady Cougars immediately answered with an 8-2 run that cut the lead to just one. UM used a Sanabria free throw, a Cali jumper and a Jones three-pointer to retake a seven point lead with 9:01 to play. CSU then closed out the first half with a 14-2 run to take a 25-20 lead into halftime.
After a second half opening lay-up by CSU the Falcons used a 9-2 run to tie the game at 29. The two teams went back-and-forth with CSU keeping a slight advantage on the scoreboard. The Lady Cougars slowly built up a seven-point lead with 3:27 left in the game but a 13-3 run by the Falcons gave UM a three-point lead with just 14 seconds on the clock.
The Lady Cougars used a timeout with 11 seconds left to draw up one final play. Freshman Kelsey Weynand took a pass from Monique Jefferson with four seconds left and hit a three to tie the game at 53. The Falcons were unable to get a shot off in the final seconds and the game headed to overtime.
UM went cold in the overtime period as the Falcons were unable to hit a shot in the entire five minute period. The lady Cougars were not much better off as they hit just two of their seven shots from the floor but it would be enough as they made six trips to the free throw line and knocked down five. The game ended with the Lady Cougars on top 63-53.
The Falcons finish just one spot outside the top four who make it to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The Falcons return two of their top three scorers next year in Jones and junior Carrie Parrott (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel). They also bring back four players who saw significant time on the court this season who will likely build the foundation of a successful 2010-11 Montevallo squad.
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