For immediate release – 2/8/2014 - #190
Shannon Allan Drills Three-Pointer to Lift LC Women to 79-78 Win at Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, VA – Junior forward Shannon Allan nailed a three-pointer with 11 seconds left to lift the Lynchburg College women's basketball team to a thrilling 79-78 victory at Bridgewater College Saturday in an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup.

The Hornets held a 44-38 lead at intermission as Charmaine Hairston hit a trifecta just before the buzzer. LC opened a 10-point lead in the second half before Bridgewater rallied to tie the game at 60, and later took a 72-67 lead with under three minutes to play.

The Hornets would not miss in the final two minutes. Following a steal from junior Lauren Penley, Hairston connected on another three to cut the lead to two with 1:20 on the game clock. Cassidy Burkholder made lay-up to extend the BC edge to four, but Hairston answered with a two-pointer of her own. The Eagles missed a jump shot ahead 78-76 with 22 seconds left and Caleigh Patterson cleared the defensive glass to set up Allan's game-deciding three-pointer. Bridgewater couldn't convert the front end of a one-and-one and a jumper in the final seconds for the win.

Allan scored a game-high 25 points, making 10 of her 18 shots from the floor and three of seven from downtown. She added six defensive rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. Penley played a team-high 37 minutes and responded with 19 points and nine assists, converting on 8-of-11 shots from the field. Hairston netted 13 of her 18 points in the second half, and finished with three three-pointers and three steals. Ann Dorris added six points and four assists.

Holly Morgan had a team-best 21 points for Bridgewater (7-12/5-6 ODAC) to go with seven assists, five rebounds and two steals. Heather Cantrell posted 16 points and five rebounds, while Molly Shelley had 12 points and five rebounds.

The Hornets improve to 13-8 overall and 10-2 in conference play, earning victories in eight of their last nine games. LC hosts Virginia Wesleyan College Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. in another important ODAC clash, and is Lynchburg's Play 4 Kay game – an opportunity to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research.