Lady Badgers Overpower Tougaloo, 82-69

The Spring Hill College Lady Badgers (5-16, 4-7 GCAC) saw a 44-34 halftime lead over the Lady Bulldogs of Tougaloo College dwindle to just two points at 53-51 with 11 minutes left on the clock, but two crucial offensive rebounds would turn the momentum back to the home team’s advantage in an 82-69 victory.

With 8:21 on the clock, freshman forward Erica Wright would score a lay-up basket and draw the foul, but miss her free throw opportunity.  Wright, however, cleaned up her own rebound and went right back to the basket where she made the basket and was fouled again.  Once again, Wright would miss her free throw, but this time freshman guard Meagan Duncan would earn the offensive rebound.  By the end of the sequence, Spring Hill had recaptured its 10-point advantage at 61-51.

Tougaloo would get no closer on the evening as SHC stretched its lead to as much as 18 (82-64 with 52 seconds remaining) before the final buzzer sounded.

Sharidan Hollis scored 24 points for Spring Hill and made five of seven 3-point attempts.  Rashonda Belton added 17 points for the Lady Badgers with Angél Parker pulling in eight rebounds.  As a team, Spring Hill shot 52% (26-50) from the field and a season-high 58% (11-19) from 3-point land. 

Tougaloo was paced by Erica McElroy with 26 points, followed by Amber Johnson with 12 and Tamara Jackson with 11 points.  McElroy also led all rebounders with 10 boards.  SHC held the Lady Bulldogs (6-15, 4-7) to 41% (28-68) from the field and 27% (8-30) in 3-points attempts.

Both teams committed 18 turnovers and Spring Hill edged out one more rebound than Tougaloo, 37 to 36.

The Lady Badgers host Dillard University on Saturday in a conference match up beginning at 5:00 p.m.