MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Teairra Luckett scored all five of her points in the final 66 seconds of double-overtime, including a pair of go-ahead free throws with 11 seconds left, as the Martin Methodist Women's Basketball team defeated No. 1 seed and No. 3 nationally-ranked Bethel (Tenn.) in the SSAC Women's Basketball Championship semifinal Friday afternoon.
The win lifted the fourth-seeded RedHawks (22-10) to their first-ever SSAC Women's Basketball Championship title game, which is set for 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl. The RedHawks will meet defending tournament champ No. 2 seed Loyola (La.), which knocked off No. 3 seed Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) in its semifinal matchup Friday.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
Friday's victory was an instant classic as the RedHawks overcame a two-point halftime deficit to lead for much of the third and fourth quarters. Ahead 57-43 with 6:19 left in regulation, the RedHawks saw their 14-point advantage evaporate as Bethel stormed back to force overtime at 63-63.
In the first extra period, the RedHawks appeared to fall behind for good as they trailed 69-65 with just under two minutes remaining. But RedHawk guard Karson Mullens sank two free throws to pull within a bucket. After a defensive stop, RedHawk forward Abby Clayton scored the last of her 15 points on a leaner with 1.1 seconds remaining to force a second overtime.
In the second extra frame, the RedHawks once again fell behind by two possessions as Bethel built a 77-73 lead with 2:57 left in the period. The RedHawks would score the final six points – five of which came from Luckett – as the junior swished home a 3-pointer and then added two free throws with 11 seconds remaining to put the RedHawks ahead by two.
The Lady Wildcats (26-6) called their last timeout to advance the ball to midcourt and drew up a 3-point play for guard Shamon Pearson. The long-range effort rattled off the rim and a scrum for the ball occurred underneath the basket. The ball eventually popped out to Lady Wildcat guard Cayla Sheets, who fired a shot that clanged off the iron as the final buzzer sounded.
"What an unbelievable game," RedHawks head coach Kyle Bent said. "This was truly one for the ages. Both teams gave it their all. I was afraid we might have let it slip away after (Bethel) made that big run in regulation, but our girls dug deep. We had massive efforts from virtually everyone in the lineup tonight. We will go grab a snack, take some ice baths and then get ready to play for a conference title on Saturday."
Brionna Taylor led the RedHawks with 22 points – 12 of which came in the third quarter – before she fouled out in the first overtime period. The junior forward was also a huge presence on the glass for the RedHawks as she tracked down 13 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
Clayton finished with 15 points and Nina Mills added 12 for the RedHawks, who shot 41.5 percent from the floor. The RedHawks committed 20 turnovers, but compensated for the miscues by dolling out 20 assists in the win.
Jackliann Street scored 17 points – all in the second half – to lead the Lady Wildcats. Alexis Hardaway also notched a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
The win marked the third time this season the RedHawks have defeated a team ranked in the NAIA Top 5 as they also defeated the then-No. 2 Freed-Hardeman back in November and bested then-No. 2 Bethel in January.
