ROME, Ga. – It took until the final horn to determine a winner, but the University of Montevallo women's basketball team concluded its two-game Georgia swing with its sixth straight win as the Falcons clipped Shorter University, 84-83, Saturday afternoon.
With Montevallo (9-1, 4-0) trailing 81-75 with 1:03 remaining in the game,
Aaliyah Rice sank a jumper to cut the Falcons' deficit. Nearly 20 seconds later,
Jordan Jones forced a turnover, was credited with a steal then made a layup to make it 81-79. Jordan struck again just five seconds later when she forced a Tatum Ragsdale turnover, gathered the ball and tied the game at 81 on a layup with 41 seconds remaining in the game.
Ragsdale turned the ball over again on Shorter's next possession as
Nautika Philpot stole the ball, then was fouled. She sank the backend of two free throws to give Montevallo an 82-81 advantage. Philpot struck again as she was fouled after bringing down her fourth rebound of the game. She converted both free throw attempts to extend the Falcons' lead to three with 20 seconds left in the game.
Jasmine Gaines, who finished with a game-high 35 points, brought Shorter closer with a layup with 11 seconds left, but that was the last time the Hawks managed to score despite forcing a Montevallo turnover in the closing seconds.
Paige Ward led Montevallo with a career-high 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including four 3-point baskets and three free throws. Jones also finished with a career high as the sophomore from Helena, Ala., scored 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while matching
Marisa Snodgrass' team-high four steals. Rice also finished in double figures as she chipped in with 12 points in only 19 minutes of game action.
After scoring a career-high 32 points last time out,
Shyan Flack finished with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while bringing down a team-high eight rebounds and matched Snodgrass' team-high three assists.
Montevallo will now break for the holidays, before returning to action on Saturday, Jan. 4 when the Falcons host Auburn University Montgomery at 2 p.m.
