Box Score MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo women's basketball team earned a statement win on Thursday evening, handing No. 15 Lee its first loss of the season. The Falcons earned a 67-59 win over the Lady Flames to open 2024-25 GSC slate.

The win over the No. 15 Lady Flames represents the highest ranked win for UM since 2021 when the Falcons defeated No. 11 Tampa 81-67. This win also marks the first time Montevallo has defeated Lee since 2021.

Isabel Grimes led the way for Montevallo with 23 points, while Elisa Saffold added 15 points, and Aubrey Sorrells scored ten.

The Falcons struck first, as a Saffold lay-in and a three-pointer by Grimes gave Montevallo an early 5-0 lead. Lee responded with five consecutive points before MaKayla Gordon scored on a pull up to give the Falcons a, 7-5, lead at the 4:38 mark. Both teams traded baskets, as Montevallo held an, 11-9, advantage with 2:09 left on the clock. Aubrey Sorrells cashed in on a lay-in to put the Falcons up, 13-9, at the 1:29 mark. Lee responded with a three-pointer, but Isabel Grimes closed the first quarter with a three-pointer in the final seconds, giving UM a 16-12 lead at the end of one.

Ramie Reid opened the second quarter with back-to-back buckets, giving the the Falcons a, 20-12, lead at the 7:28 mark. The Lady Flames fought back, building a 6-0 run to cut the UM lead to, 20-18, with 5:33 left on the clock. Saffold stopped the Lee run, cashing in on a lay-in of her own. Both teams traded three-pointers, before Saffold scored back-to-back buckets, giving the Falcons a 29-21 lead at the 3:18 mark. The Flames cut into the UM lead with a pair of free-throws, before a Grimes three-pointer and a Saffold lay-in would put UM up by double digits, 34-23, with 1:56 left on the clock. The Lady Flames closed the quarter with a pair of baskets, as Montevallo took a 34-27 lead at the break.

Lee opened the second half with a three-pointer, while Saffold cashed in on a lay-in for the first points of the third quarter for UM. The Lady Flames continued to push, scoring the next four to cut the UM lead to one possession, 36-34, at the 5:48 mark. Grimes responded, earning an and-one to put the Falcons up by five, 39-34. The Lady Flames responded again, this time with an 8-0 run, as Lee took a 42-39 lead with 3:04 left on the clock. A Grimes free-throw halted the run and a three-pointer by Saffold would put Montevallo back in front, 43-42, at the 1:39 mark. Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter, capped by a Grimes pull up at the last second to give the Falcons a 47-46 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Grimes continued her phenomenal game with a three-point basket to open the fourth quarter. Both teams continued to trade baskets, with Sorrells and Gillies scoring in the next few minutes, as Montevallo held on to the one-point lead, 54-53, at the 5:52 mark. After a Sorrells free-throw, Grimes cashed in on a pull up, extending the UM lead to 57-53, with 3:37 left on the clock. Lee responded with a three-pointer, cutting the Falcon lead back down to one, 57-56, at the 3:19 mark. The Falcons dominated in the ensuing minutes, going on an 8-0 run, highlighted by Grimes fifth three-pointer of the night, to seemingly put the game away. The Lady Flames knocked down one more three-pointer, but it would not be enough, as Montevallo took home the 67-59 win.

GAME NOTES
Score: Montevallo 67 | Lee 59
Records: Montevallo 3-3 (1-0 GSC) | Lee 6-1 (0-1)
Location: Central State Bank Arena | Montevallo, Ala.

GAME NOTES

• The Falcons shot the ball 43.1 percent from the floor, compared to the Lady Flames 36.2 percent clip.
• Montevallo outrebounded Lee 42-28.
• The Falcons had a 32-14 advantage in paint points.
• Three Falcons scored in double figures including Isabel Grimes (23), Elisa Saffold (15), and Aubrey Sorrells (10).