Posted: Mar 07, 2014
The Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) Lady Bears have a knack for the dramatic. After digging themselves a ten point deficit for the second game in a row, BRCC was able to fight back for a 78-70 victory over Copiah-Lincoln Community College in the semi-final game of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 23 Tournament in Clinton, Mississippi.
The win earns BRCC (23-6) a spot in the Region 23 Championship game tomorrow evening where they will play Southwest Mississippi Community College. This will be the second straight year playing in the championship game for Coach Lee and the Lady Bears. Last year they lost a one point heartbreaker to Itawamba Community College. Game time is set for 6:00 pm on Saturday evening.
With today's win, BRCC has earned an automatic berth into the NJCAA National Tournament in Salina, Kansas. The tournament is a single elimination format and runs from March 17-22.
Copiah-Lincoln began today's game with hot shooting that lead to an early ten point advantage.
BRCC managed to keep the game close in the first half, cutting the deficit to two points by halftime. Trailing 35-33 at the break was a positive after the Lady Bears struggled to keep the Lady Wolves off the three point line and away from the offensive glass.
The second half was a see-saw battle throughout. The Lady Bears would not go away and finally took the lead with under twelve minutes to play. Sophomore guard and BRCC's leading scorer, Ashley Williams, found herself in foul trouble during the second half and had to take a seat for a good portion of the half.
With their leading scorer sidelined, the Lady Bears didn't hesitate to keep battling. The game was tied at 59 with under five minutes to play, when Lanae Bickham caught fire. In a span of thirty seconds, the freshman guard went on a three point spree; she hit two shots from deep before getting fouled on a transition layup. The 9-0 run was the spark the Lady Bears needed to secure victory.
Bickham led the team in scoring with 24 points; Rosa Bryant contributed 23 points; and Ashley Williams added 21 points in the win.