Second Half Surge Falls Short, 'Cats Clip Majors 58-54

PINEVILLE, La. – Louisiana College jumped out to a 39-17 halftime lead off 19 Millsaps turnovers and held off a furious second half comeback from the Majors over the final 11:13 to give Lady Wildcat head coach Janice Joseph-Richard her first home win, 58-54.

Joanna Tate, Christy Pantallion, Tillisha Givens and Taylor Henderson netted 10 points apiece to lead a balanced scoring attack for LC, while junior Jessica Bowie poured in a career-high 20 points and 11 boards for her second career double-double to go along with three blocks for the visiting Majors.

LC (3-1) forced 26 Millsaps turnovers – 19 in the first half – and picked up 15 steals to take a 22-point halftime lead, jumpstarted by a 10-2 run during the first five minutes of the game.

The 'Cats forced six Millsaps (1-1) turnovers during that stretch, converting them into successful buckets from Kelli Brasher (2), Krystle Hunter (2) and Ashley Peairs.

LC gradually increased its lead the remainder of the half, taking advantage of 25 bench points on 10-of-18 shooting and poor shooting from the Majors at just 25 percent.

Out of intermission, LC led anywhere from 15-18 points a majority of the half until Bowie and the Majors started knocking down shots on the offensive side of the floor.

Freshman Ronda Webb's three-point play off a layup and free throw at the 9:08 mark cut the 'Cats lead to 50-34 to start a furious 20-8 run for Millsaps in which they shot 50 percent and scored 11 of the final 13 points.

The comeback fell just short, however, as Joanna Tate's jumper at the 4:18 mark gave LC a 56-43 lead that they would hold onto for the 4-point win.

Bowie (20) and Webb (14) both scored in double figures for the Majors while Crystal Dickerson grabbed a game and career-high 18 boards to go along with eight points. LaReina Adams added four points and seven rebounds off the bench for Millsaps in 23 minutes.

The Majors return to action Monday, Nov. 26, at 5:30 p.m., traveling to MS College in a rematch of the season-opener for both teams. Millsaps knocked off the Lady Chocs 57-55 on a last-second lay-up in the first meeting.

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