Lewis’ 31 Points Lead Falcons over Newberry, 80-79

DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The University of Montevallo women's basketball team (3-0) saw two single game UM records fall as the Falcons slipped by Newberry College (2-1), 80-79. The Falcons won in thrilling fashion as senior Alicia Lewis (Youngsville, La./Comeaux) hit a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds left on the clock to put the Falcons ahead 80-79.

Lewis hit a school-record nine three pointers which tied her with Tammie Tobitt (1989-92) who hit nine against Concordia-Selma in the 1990-91 season. Senior Alex Sanabria (Miami, Fla./Miami) also broke UM's NCAA record for assists in a game with 12 as she surpassed Malissa Harris (2003-07) who had 11 against Alabama Huntsville during the 2006-07 season. The all-time school record for assists in a game is 14 held by several players during the schools time in NAIA.

The Falcons are now off to their best start since the 1995-96 season in which they began 19-0 and finished with a 25-4 record.

Newberry had control of the game early as they jumped out to an 11-3 lead. The Falcons would not be held down long as they fought their way back into the game eventually taking the 12-11 lead. The two teams continued to battle back-and-forth with the Falcons holding a slight advantage most of the first half. The period ended with the Falcons up 38-35.

The second half was the story of the game as both teams would not go down without a fight. Newberry took the lead for the first time in the second half at the 16:27 mark. They held on to the lead for the next eight minutes of play but UM was able to regain control with just 8:19 left on the clock as Lewis hit one of her nine three-pointers. The Falcons remained in control until the 2:52 mark as Newberry responded with a lead-taking three of their own.

Down by three with 1:18 left in the game senior Manal Cali (Northampton, England/Northampton School for Girls) hit a lay-up to cut the Newberry lead to one, 74-73. After a Newberry turnover and foul, Cali found herself at the free throw line down one. Cali sunk both shots giving the Falcons a 75-74 lead with 49 second left in the game.

Newberry drove down the court and hit a three-pointer to put them up 77-75 with just over 30 second left on the clock. After a few missed shots and turnovers the Falcons found themselves with the ball with 19 second left on the clock and down two. UM dribbled up the court with Sanabria at the point. She found Lewis beyond the three-point line and the senior went on to drain a three with four seconds left on the clock to put the Falcons ahead 78-77.

After four timeouts by Newberry, NC was able to inbound the ball and find a player for the go-ahead shot with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. Newberry took the 79-78 lead but in the midst of the celebration a number of Newberry players rushed the court causing the referee to assess a technical foul on the Newberry bench allowing the Falcons two free throws and the ball.

Coach Brittney Ezell chose Lewis to take the two shots despite her not having had a free throw attempt in the game. The senior leader came through as she buried both free throws to put the Falcons ahead 80-79 with 0.4 seconds left on the clock. A quick inbound ended the game.

UM was led by Lewis who scored 31 points off of 10-of-15 shooting including 9-of-14 from three-point range. She also chipped in five rebounds. Sanabria led the team with 12 assists and six rebounds and was third on the team in scoring with 13 good for her first double-double of the season.

Cali chipped in 15 points as she was 5-of-7 from the field and 4-for-5 at the charity stripe.

Junior's Shan Jones (Hartselle, Ala./Hartselle) and Kristen Seigenthaler (Murfreesboro, Tenn./Siegel) each grabbed five rebounds in the game.

The Falcons out-shot Newberry 48.4 percent to 42.9 percent and were even better from three-point range as the Falcons hit 52.0 percent compared to Newberry's 31.8 percent.

The Falcons will return to action Friday, Nov. 27 at 12:00 p.m. as they travel to the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic to take on Saint Leo University.