CLEVELAND, Ga. (Jan. 9, 2021) - The Truett McConnell University women's basketball team went face to face with the number one team in Appalachian Athletic Conference, Bryan College, on Saturday inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena. The Lady Bears maintained the lead into the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell by a slim margin to the Lions (65-59), who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA national top 25 poll.
The Lions have stayed perfect in AAC regular season play since 2018 and rose to a record of 7-2, 7-0 AAC, while TMU fell to a record of 5-9, 2-9 AAC.
Most notable, TMU held the Lions to 65 points, while they are currently averaging 87.88 points a game. Furthermore, the Lions were only capable of making three 3-pointers when they rank fourth in the NAIA for most 3-pointers made per game (11.125).
WHAT HAPPENED
The Lions broke away with the lead until the final two minutes of the quarter when Camilla Howell fed Sierra Kendall in the paint to give the Lady Bears a one-point lead (11-12), which was followed by two more buckets in the paint by Kendall and Aisya Davis (16-11). Re'Tavia Floyd further increased TMU's lead by draining a 3-pointer just before the second quarter (19-11).
The Lady Bears maintained the momentum throughout the entire second quarter, capable of securing a four-point lead after a layup in the paint from Quan Holton to end the half (28-24). TMU continued to protect their home court getting ahead as much as nine after a Howell free throw in the third (24-33). While the Lady Bears continued to show their grit, a 3-pointer at the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter gave Bryan their first lead of the game since the first quarter and it was exactly the advantage they needed to close (49-47). A shot in the paint from Holton put TMU within one with 2:22 to go (55-56), but the undefeated Lions refused to lose the lead the rest of the way.
BY THE NUMBERS
Kendall led the Lady Bears with a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds, along with a block and steal. Floyd followed with 11 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Davis had 10 points with five rebounds and a block. Holton added 10 point, five rebounds and two assists, followed by Howell who had three points and three assists.
UP NEXT
The Lady Bears are back inside the Benjamin F. Brady Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 5:00 p.m., for an AAC match up with Tennessee Wesleyan University.
