JACKSON, Miss. – Three seconds. Two Jumpers. Improbable comeback.
The Maroon and White scored four points in three seconds to end the game as Centenary (2-0) completed a wild comeback against Hendrix (1-1) in the first day of the Southern Athletic Association-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Classic Saturday afternoon, November 19.
It started with the Ladies down 65-61 with less than a minute left. Senior DeiAnna Hall made a layup to make cut the deficit in half with 33 seconds left. After missed layup with six seconds left, the Ladies rushed up the court and freshman Essa Badon hit a deep jumper with her foot on the line to tie the game at 65 with three seconds left.
Hendrix advanced the ball on a timeout, but before the ball could be inbounded, the Warriors were whistled for an offensive foul. After the Ladies moved the ball to right in front of their bench, Badon lofted the inbounds passto sophomore Jasmine Morris. Morris made the jumper while being fouled to put Centenary up 67-65 with 0.7 on the clock. Morris missed the free throw, but Hendrix could not even get a game-winning attempt off.
Morris had a career day for her first collegiate double-double, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds with five assists and two steals. Despite a 28-for-74 (37.8 percent) mark from the field, the Ladies took advantage of 21 Hendrix turnovers and turned it in to 21 points.
Down 15-10 after the first quarter, Centenary found itself down 29-18 with less than a minute left in the first half before six quick points to end the half. Badon split from the line and then Morris hit a layup. After a defensive stand, sophomore Sheridan Smith made a fastbreak three on a pass from classmate Erin Temple at the buzzer.
Centenary trailed 38-32 with 6:49 left in the third quarter before a 9-0 run gave Centenary a lead for the first time since 7-6 in the first quarter. The Ladies tied the game with a pair of fastbreak layups by Morris, coupled with a fastbreak layup from senior Linda Gomez Gil. After a turnover by the Warriors, Temple hit a three to put Centenary back in the lead.
The Ladies led by two heading into the final quarter.
Gomez Gil came off the bench for 11 points, while Temple added 10. Hall scored 14 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Maroon and White.
Hendrix led 21-18 in the second quarter before scoring eight unanswered to quickly take a double-digit lead. Hailey Bode hit a fastbreak layup, Heather Prowse split from the line, and Amber Turner hit a three. Madison Martin hit a layup, and the Warriors led 29-18 with 2:39 left in the first half.
Madison Martin scored 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting with 20 rebounds to lead Hendrix. Bode added 14, Turner scored 14, and Prowse added 11.
Centenary closes out the weekend tomorrow against host Millsaps at 1 p.m.