Lady Badger Comeback Falls Short, 75-64

A spirited comeback attempt by the Spring Hill College Lady Badgers (3-13, 2-4 GCAC) fell short at Belhaven College on Saturday night as the home-standing Lady Blazers won 75-64.   Trailing by as much as 12 points in the second half, Spring Hill charged back to cut the deficit to just four points at 59-55 with 4:10 remaining in the game.  Belhaven’s quick-handed defense and accurate free throw shooting, however, allowed them to maintain the advantage.

Turnovers were the decisive statistic of the game.  The Lady Badgers committed a season high 31 turnovers leading to 31 Lady Blazer points off 17 steals.  SHC out-rebounded Belhaven 40 to 31.

For Spring Hill, junior forward Keisha Forbes of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., turned in her fourth double-double of the season with a game high 22 points and 10 rebounds.  Junior guard Sharidan Hollis from Birmingham added 14 points.

Belhaven (8-8, 3-3) did much of their scoring at the charity stripe making 32 of 41 free throws following a season-high 28 team fouls by the Badgers.  SHC made 12 of 19 following 19 Belhaven fouls.  Samantha Kirkwood scored 20 points for the Blazers with six rebounds while Jaelyn Stringer scored 18 points and Holly dial added 10 points.

As a team, Spring Hill shot 47% (25-53) from the field and Belhaven shot 37% (21-57).  Belhaven led 37-33 at the half following an 8-3 run by the Blazers in the final three minutes.

The Lady Badgers return home on Thursday to play William Carey in a conference match up beginning at 5:30 p.m.