Panthers fall to Piedmont in GSAC Semi-Finals

Feb. 23, 2007

The women's basketball team finished the season as they fell to Piedmont, 83-80 in a thrilling finish in the Mariotti Gym on Friday evening.  The Lady Lions will advance to the GSAC Championship on Saturday.

The Panthers started off the game with a 7-2 lead as Lindsey Moore scored the first four points of the game. 

The Lady Lions would gain the lead as they would go on a 11-2 run to grab a four-point lead, 13-9 with 16:25 to go in the first half.

Shannah Mabry would connect on back-to-back three-pointers to give the Panthers an 18-13 lead with 14:23 to go.

The Panthers would hold the lead for most of the first half as they mounted an 8-0 on to put them up nine, 30-21 after another Mabry three-pointer with 9:50 remaining in the half.

The Panthers would maintain the lead until :11 seconds in the half as Beth Adcock would hit a three-pointer to give Piedmont a 49-46 lead at intermission.

The second half would continue the same way it ended, with Piedmont having momentum, as they would open the half controlling the tempo of the game hanging on to their single-digit lead.

The Lady Lions would then go on a 13-4 run over the next six minutes to give them their biggest lead of the game, 70-57 with 10 minutes remaining.

The Panthers would slowly climb to within five, but could not get any closer as Piedmont would have an answer for every LaGrange bucket during the next eight minutes.

The Panthers would respond in the final two minutes of the game, going on a 6-0 run with a lay-up by Moore, then a steal and a fast break lay-up by Ebonie Johnson to make it a one-point game, 81-80 with one minute remaining.

After two made free throws by Sheena Trimiar with :11 seconds remaining, the Panthers had one final shot to send the game into overtime, but Kellee Scandrett's (pictured above) three-pointer, in what would have been exactly like the men's finish in regulation, rimmed out to end the game.

The Panthers end a great season at 15-12, which was more wins than the previous two years combined.  They were led by Scandrett and Valeree Williams, who finished with 15 points apiece.  Lindsey Moore also had 13 points and five rebounds in her final game.  Shannah Mabry would add 12 points for the Panthers in the loss.

Scandrett ends her career as the school's all-time steals leader (144), three-pointers made (116) and attempted (407) leader.  Moore ends her career second in steals (141), free throws made (252), third in points (876) and fourth in rebounds with 415.  Taylor ends her career as the school's season leader in steals (77), second in blocked shots (33) and third in steals with 132 in just two seasons with the Panthers.

The Lady Lions, who improve to 17-7 on the year, were led by Beth Adcock with 24 points and seven assists.  Nikki Sosebee had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Lions.

Tip-off for the GSAC Women's Championship game is scheduled for 2 p.m.