MONTICELLO – Mobile’s Adrienne Mackay sunk two free throws with 0.1 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Lady Rams a 66-65 win over the University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team on the opening day of the 4th Annual Dr. Mary Jane Gilbert Classic.
The Lady Rams (4-2) used a 15-6 scoring to start the second half to extend their lead to 16 points at 30-46, and the team reached a 17-point lead on two occasions before the Cotton Blossoms (1-3) took advantage of four consecutive Mobile turnovers to bring the deficit down to four points with 3:50 left in the contest.
Alyssa Lane increased Mobile’s lead to seven points with a three-point play before junior Chelsea Johnson nailed a three-pointer and a jumper to bring UAM to within two points at 60-58 with 2:44 left.
Sophomore LaChasity Seale recorded one of her four steals on Mobile’s next possession and sunk a fast-break layup to create the game’s fourth tie and first since the 7:20 mark of the first half.
With 1:16 left, junior Channon Haywood made 1-of-2 free throws to give UAM its first lead of the second half at 63-62. Less than a minute later, junior teammate Jasmine Rush was forced into the same situation and nailed both her foul shots to give UAM a 65-64 lead.
After Alyssa Lane and Adrienne Mackay missed shots for Mobile, Chelsea Johnson was sent to the line with eight seconds left with a chance to put UAM up by three points, but both of her free throws bounced out, allowing Mobile a final scoring opportunity.
Off the rebound, the Lady Rams pushed the ball the length of the court to set up Mackay for a potential game-winning shot, which was stopped by a foul called on LaChasity Seale. Mackay sunk both free throws to seal the win for the Lady Rams.
Rush led UAM in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. She also had two points from the foul line to go along with six rebounds and two assists. Haywood followed closely with 14 points.
Mobile’s Alyssa Lane led all scores with 18 points, while Alice Honnery added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Allison Michael also reached double-digits in scoring with 13 points.
The Cotton Blossoms return to action tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 p.m. against Texas A&M-Commerce for the final game of the MJG Classic.
TAMU-Commerce lost to Ouachita Baptist in the opening game of the classic by a final score of 83-61.
