For immediate release – 2/27/2015 - #287
Allan's Strong Finish Puts Hornets into the Semis
SALEM, VA – Shannon Allan powered through two defenders right near the basket in order to score the game-winning layup and send the Lynchburg College women's basketball team to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) semifinals. LC, the #3 seed, defeated Washington and Lee University 55-53 on Friday night to advance past the quarters for the third-straight year.
The first half was closely contested as the Hornets and the Generals exchanged baskets and leads throughout the stanza. Both sides exchanged the lead five times in a span of a minute and a half, until Lauren Penley connected on two free throws with 12:14. Allan pushed the lead out to three with her own pair from the charity stripe, but W&L came back to tie it once again. Sammi Goldsmith made a layup and Lynchburg held on to a slim lead, with three being the largest until the 3:41 mark.
Shelbi Hendricks made two free throws to give Washington and Lee the 24-23 lead. The two teams traded buckets and leads once again, until Sarah Coon scored with 21 seconds left in the half to give the Hornets a 29-26 lead.
The Generals stormed out of the intermission scoring the first five points. Lynchburg came back with a 7-0 run, including two layups and a free throw from Chaney Forbush. W&L cut the lead to one, 36-35, with 11:44 left in the game, but Allan answered with a three to put the advantage to four. The lead was extended, but Washington and Lee answered and cut it to 45-44 with 6:38 left on the clock.
LC scored the next six points, taking a 51-44 lead with 4:54 remaining. Washington and Lee scored two straight layups, continuing to chip away at the Lynchburg lead. LC hit a free throw, but the Generals responded with two of their own.
After Allan put the Hornets up 53-50 at 1:40, the Generals came down and Paige Corvino converted a traditional three-point play with 1:26 remaining. Lynchburg came down and missed a layup with a little over a minute left, and W&L grabbed the rebound and brought it up the floor. LC played stellar defense and forced Hendricks to step on the baseline and turn the ball over.
The Hornets came down and missed a three-point field goal attempt, but Coon grabbed the rebound. That's when Allan shined and scored while being hounded by several General defenders on the right block. She would not be denied. W&L still had seven seconds, but could not convert the three-point attempt.
"W&L played a phenomenal game," said head coach Abby Pyzik. "On our last basket, we trust Shannon in that kind of situation, and she delivered. I am so proud of her taking and making the final shot."
Jackie Clifford led the Generals (16-10 overall) with a game-high 22 points. Hendricks added 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
LC outrebounded W&L 43-35, including 12 from both Forbush and Coon. Forbush added 15 points for a double-double, while Allan also tallied double-figures with 12 points.
Lynchburg (18-8) will play tomorrow night in the second semifinal matchup at the Salem Civic Center. The Hornets face Emory & Henry College, the seventh-seed, who upset Randolph-Macon College earlier Friday. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. but could be pushed back if the other semifinal goes past its allotted time.