Lady Railsplitters Get Past Brevard 68-66

HARROGATE, TN – It came down to free throws and the LMU senior Madeline Richards (Floyds Knobs, IN) hit five of six in the last 31 seconds to push the Lady Railsplitters past Brevard 68-66 on Tuesday. (Box score)

The game was nip-and-tuck throughout the evening with the largest lead by either team coming in the second half when LMU took a 44-37 lead on a lay-up by senior Wisemane Alcema (West Palm Beach, FL) with 16:31 left in the game.  Brevard used a 9-15 performance from three-point range to keep the score close and make a late run, tying the game with twelve seconds to go before Richards hit a lay-up at the buzzer which gave LMU the 34-32 lead at the half.

Brevard then used a 4-5 performance from three-point range in the second half to help the Lady Tornados take a three-point 64-61 lead with 1:20 to go on a pair of free throws from junior Holly Krogman (Hickory, NC).  LMU's Kate Fane (Sterling, IL) then dribbled down the court and cut the lead to one with 1:06 to go. 

Following a Brevard timeout, LMU forced the Lady Tornados to take another timeout to avoid a turnover on a five second count.  Brevard then brought the ball to the top of the key and the Lady Railsplitters put on a half-court trap to try and force a turnover.  Lady Tornado junior Megan Russell (Speedwell, TN) then committed an offensive foul while trying to get the ball and LMU got the ball to Richards, who was fouled and hit both free throws.  Brevard then in-bounded the ball and Courtney Brandon (Corona, CA) brought it across mid-court but was then tied-up by Alcema and the possession arrow went to the Lady Railsplitters.  Once again Richards received the ball and was fouled but only hit one of two to give LMU the 66-64 lead.  Samantha Winn (Candler, NC) then tried to hit a jumper to tie the game but missed.  Richards grabbed the rebound and hit both free throws after being fouled to put LMU ahead 68-64 and seal the victory.

Brevard (1-5) was led by Winn with 16 points and Krogman with 15 points.  Both players led the Lady Tornados with five rebounds each.  Lindsey Morgan (Mt. Holly, NC) also scored 10 points. 

Junior Heather Benton (Wooton, KY) led LMU (3-1) with 21 points and nine rebounds.  Freshman Andi Winney (Yorktown, IN) also had nine rebounds and scored 14 points on the evening and Richards finished the game with 15 points.  LMU won the battle of the boards as they out-rebounded Brevard 39-23.

Brevard will next travel to face Mars Hill on Nov. 30. 

The Lady Railsplitters will now start a seven game road swing on Friday, Nov. 30, as they travel for a rematch with Lees-McRae.  Their next appearance in the Turner Arena will be on Jan. 6 when they host their first-ever South Atlantic Conference home game and a clash of two of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division II history when Wingate comes to town.