Panthers fall to nationally-ranked Oglethorpe
Dec. 8, 2007

ATLANTA, Ga. – Nationally-ranked Oglethorpe University downed LaGrange College 68-48 on Saturday at Dorough Field House. The loss dropped the Panthers to 3-4, while the unbeaten 25th-ranked Stormy Petrels upped their record to 7-0.

Valeree Williams led LaGrange with 12 points. Jessica Boler added 10 points. Jessica Barba had nine points and a game-high and career-high 13 rebounds.

Anna Findley led a balanced scoring attack for Oglethorpe with a game-high 13 points. Katie Kulavic had 11 points and Tina Grace 10.

LaGrange led briefly in the first half. The Panthers fell behind 10-4 in the early going of the half. Boler scored four straight points to give the Panthers a 12-11 lead.

Kulavic's jumper put Oglethorpe ahead to stay, 14-12. The Stormy Petrels led by as many as 15 in the first half, 31-16. Melissa Mora hit a 3-pointer and Boler scored at the end of the half to get the Panthers within 10, 31-21, at halftime.

Williams' 3-pointer to start the second half cut the deficit to 31-24. It was as close as the Panthers would get the rest of the way. Heather Tidwell's basket got the Panthers within nine, 39-30, with 14 minutes left. Oglethorpe outscored the Panthers 19-6 over the next eight minutes to open up a 58-36 lead.

The Panthers are on the road Saturday and Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. The Panthers face Hendrix on Saturday and Rhodes on Sunday. They return home Sunday, Dec. 30 to host the University of Dallas.