Panthers rally in second half to down Spelman
Jan. 9, 2008

LaGrange College rallied in the second half to down Spelman College 64-53 at Mariotti Gym on Wednesday. The win evened the Panthers' GSAC record at 1-1 and improved their overall record to 5-7. The Jaguars fell to 2-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

Senior Jessica Barba had another career-night to lead LaGrange. Barba had a game-high 27 points and 16 rebounds. Both totals were career highs for Barba. She was 10-for-13 from the floor and made 7-of-8 free throws. Heather Tidwell followed Barba with 11 points. Ashley Covington, the GSAC's leading scorer, led Spelman with 19 points.

LaGrange trailed 35-26 at halftime. The Panthers opened the second half with an 11-2 run to tie the game. Valeree Williams' two free throws tied the game at 37. The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes. The Jaguars' Malika Davis tied the game for the last time at 47 with 7:38 left.

Tidwell hit a 3-pointer off an assist from Ashley DeFreitas to put the Panthers ahead for good, 50-47. Barba scored six straight points and had a pair of blocks on the defensive end as the Panthers pulled away. Tidwell closed out the scoring for the Panthers with a pair of free throws for their largest lead, 64-52, with 1:33 remaining.

In the first half, the Jaguars outscored the Panthers 16-5 over the last six minutes of the half to take a 35-26 lead. Trailing 21-19, the Jaguars reeled off eight straight points to assume the lead. The Panthers did not score in the last three minutes of the half after Barba's basket cut the Jaguars' lead to 29-26.

Neither team shot the ball well in the game. The Panthers finished with a 36.5 percent shooting percentage, while Spelman shot 35.7 percent from the floor. The Panthers enjoyed a 22-12 advantage at the free throw line and out rebounded the Jaguars 49-32.

The Panthers continue GSAC play at Huntingdon on Saturday. The men's game begins at 3 p.m. EST and the women's game follows.