BY JACOB STOUT
Lions’ Pride Sports Writer

Courtesy of Mike Carlson

Lady Lions fight for the lead

Coming off a thrilling second OT win against Nova Southeastern at home, the Saint Leo women’s basketball team traveled to Boca Raton, Florida to take on the Lynn University Fighting Knights. However, the Lions’ came out on the short end with a 66-47 score.

This was the first of a four game stretch in which the Lions’ have to play within a ten-day span. The next three games are at home.

Lynn University started the scoring by jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the game’s first three minutes, with the help of scores shot by Lynn’s players Kira Harvey and Madeleine Doyle. A tip in by senior Willonda Windham of the Lions put Saint Leo on the board. Sierra Williams converted two free-throws to cut the Fighting Knights lead to three points.

A couple of free-throws by Chelsea Patterson and another score by Doyle along with a layup by Quanisha Dixon put the Fighting Knights up 13-4. The Lions continued to play tough, exchanging baskets with Lynn as junior Gekeela Clemmons scored four of her team-high, 13 points within a 34 second span. Another basket by Clemmons, with about ten minutes to go in the first half, cut the Fighting Knights lead to six.

Despite Clemmons’ best effort to keep the Lions in the game, the Fighting Knights continued to stretch the lead and went up by double digits with a 3-pointer by Harvey. Doyle converted a couple of free-throws to make the score 30-17 in favor of Lynn, but a jumper by Windham brought the lead back to 11. The two teams exchanged free-throws within the last two minutes of the first half and at halftime, Lynn University lead 32-21.

The Fighting Knights came out of halftime shooting well and within the first five minutes of the second half went on a 15-1 run to take their lead to 25 points. A layup by Windham would get the damage under control and the Lions’ started to cut into the lead. #22 Clemmons remained solid and her 3-pointer cut the deficit to 20 points. One minute later another 3-pointer, this time by Senior Monique Reynard, made it a 17 point game at 49-32.

Lynn found there shooting touch again and the teams exchanged baskets. A 3-pointer by Brianna Lollis with 1:41 left in the game made it 63-46. With the final score 66-47, Saint Leo failed to reach the 50-point mark in a game for only the second time this regular season.

Doyle led all scorers with 17 points as the Fighting Knights had three players scoring in double figures. Windham and Williams were right behind Gekeela in scoring with nine and eight points respectively. Dominique Daniels led the game in rebounds with nine.

The Lions played host to Florida Tech on February 6 and Tampa on February 10. Come support the lady lions Saturday February 13 as they will be playing Valdosta State University at the Marion-Bowman center.