Lady Badgers Tumble in OT, 83-70

William Carey University made all five of its field goal attempts in overtime and outscored the Spring Hill College Lady Badgers (5-18, 4-9 GCAC) 17-4 in the extra period to secure a 93-80 conference victory on Thursday night.

Junior guard Rashonda Belton sank a 3-point basket with just 16 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 76-76 after the Lady Badgers had battled back from a nine-point deficit with 11 minutes left on the clock.

At the half, Spring Hill held a 41-35 lead, but a 6-minute, 22-7 run by the Lady Crusaders (10-9, 6-7) early in the second half saw William Carey build a 63-54 advantage with 11:01 on the clock.

Belton led the Lady Badgers with 21 points while Keisha Forbes of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and 12 points.  Sharidan Hollis put in 15 points and Andrea Hicks of Houston, Texas, added 11 points.  As a team, Spring Hill shot 48% (30-63) from the field including 45% (9-20) from behind the 3-point line, but shot just 46% (11-24) from the free-throw line.

Fallon Hartfield of William Carey had an outstanding night as she dominated the boards with 18 rebounds and 19 points.  Shonte Kennedy led all scorers with 25 points and Kristen Blackledge added 18 points.  Taphne Jackson scored 12 points.  For the evening the Lady Crusaders shot 43% (31-73) overall and 29% (10-34) in 3-point attempts.

William Carey took in 45 rebounds and committed just 10 turnovers while Spring Hill pulled down 44 rebounds and turned the ball over 17 times.

The Lady Badgers travel to New Orleans, La., on Saturday to play Loyola-New Orleans in a conference match up beginning at 3:00 p.m.