PULASKI, Tenn. – The No. 23 Martin Methodist Women's Basketball team rallied from 11 points down in the second half to claim a 73-70 victory over Loyola (La.) University Thursday night in the Curry Christian Life Center.
The win was a crucial one for the RedHawks (14-4, 5-0 SSAC), who moved into sole possession of first place in the Southern States Athletic Conference. The win was the fifth straight overall for the RedHawks and their fifth in regular-season league play dating back to the final game of last season. The win also snapped a four-game losing skid to Loyola.
After they squandered an eight-point first quarter lead, the RedHawks found themselves down 62-51 with less than eight minutes left in the ballgame. But little by little, the RedHawks trimmed away at the lead and eventually tied the game with a triple from the right side corner from Destiney Williams with 1:24 left in the contest. The RedHawks scored the final seven points of the ballgame and turned a four-point deficit into a three-point victory.
After they led 36-30 at halftime, the RedHawks saw their lead dissolve almost immediately in the second half as the Wolf Pack (12-4, 5-1 SSAC) outscored the RedHawks 16-2 in the first five minutes of the third quarter.
But, with just 31 seconds left in the contest, Jemia Carpenter's leaner gave the RedHawks a 72-70 lead. Erin Freeman added one of two free throw attempts with less than 10 seconds left in the contest to put the RedHawks ahead by three.
A last-gasp Wolf Pack three-point attempt fell short as time expired.
Brooklyn Blanchard led all scorers with 22 points in the victory for the RedHawks. The guard finished the night 9-of-17 from the floor, but was a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. Blanchard also added five assists and three steals in the victory.
Carpenter scored 17 and added 13 rebounds to flank Blanchard. Carpenter made her presence felt on both ends of the court as she also handed out three assists and tallied two blocks.
Erin Freeman matched a career-high 14 points in Thursday's win. The freshman has now scored in double-figures in three straight contests and matched the 14-point effort she produced in last Thursday's win at William Carey (Miss.) University.
Mickey Head scored seven points off the bench for the RedHawks and tracked down a season-high 13 rebounds in the win.
Williams finished the night with nine points – none bigger than her third and final 3-pointer late in the contest to tie the ballgame.
The RedHawks withstood a ferocious second-half from Wolf Pack guard Zoie Miller, who scored 14 of her team-high 19 points in the second half. Fellow backcourt mate Di'Mond Jackson scored 17 and tallied nine assists in the losing effort.
The RedHawks return to action this Saturday, Jan. 13, when they host University of Mobile in an afternoon contest. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in the Curry Christian Life Center.
