Lee (TN) downs LSUS Lady Pilots
By: Lance Snow
Updated: March 13, 2013
FRANKFORT, Ky. - (Box Score) Lee (Tenn.) held off LSU Shreveport (La.), 60-55, to win the opening game of the 2013 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at the Frankfort Convention Center on Wednesday. The Lady Flames, who advance past the first round for the fourth time in 10 championship appearances, will face the winner of Carroll (Mont.)/The Master's (Calif.) on Friday at 9 a.m. EST.
The two teams struggled offensively in the first half with both teams shooting under 25 percent from the field. Lee held a 24-22 advantage at the break.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Hollie German and Julia Zimmerman capped a 13-2 Lady Flame run to open the second half, propelling Lee to a 37-24 lead with12:39 remaining.
LSU Shreveport came back to tie the score, 50-50, at the 1:47 mark of the second half when Christy Willis connected with Jenna Diakos, marking the first time the Lady Pilots had tied or taken the lead since the first half. However, German's eight points in the final 1:30 propelled the Lady Flames to the five-point victory.
In total, Lee (31-2) finished the game shooting 32.2 percent (19-of-59) from the field, including a 38.2 percent (13-for-34) clip from beyond the arc. German led all scorers with 22 points, while Jenna Adams recorded her 15th double-double of the season with 16 points and 18 rebounds.
LSU Shreveport was led in scoring by Sharde Henry's 15 points.
With the loss, the Lady Pilots finish the season with a 25-6 overall record.
