Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in an 80-77 buzzer beater.
The Warriors shot 36% from the field in the loss to the Bobcats. Makayla Raines and Dynasty Shegog led the team with 18 points. Taylin Smith also recorded double digits in scoring as she picked up 17. Of the 14 assists in the game, both Smith and Asia Pearley had three.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 50 rebounds in the game. Asia Pearley, Kaliah Kendrick and Rahkhia Mack all had six rebounds to their names. Pearley blocked the ball twice, with the other block coming from Dynasty Shegog. The Warriors picked up 16 steals. Makayla Raines recording six steals and Taylin Smith had five.
Game Vitals
Final: Lees-McRae 80, Southern Wesleyan 77
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-7 / CC 0-3) Lees-McRae (3-5 / CC 1-3)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gate as Asia Pearley laid the ball up into the basket. However, a jump shot by Thailand Smith allowed the Bobcats to tie the game up seconds later. Leah Barringer sunk the ball into the basket from beyond the arc to give Lees-McRae the lead. Southern Wesleyan challenged back with layups by Makayla Raines and Dynasty Shegog. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, Peyton Looky passed the ball around the key to Kyra Price. Price put up a three pointer to keep the Warriors within one. Taylin Smith gave the Warriors the lead as she put up a jump shot. Pearley passed the ball beyond the arc to Raines who hit a three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to six.
Lees-McRae kicked off the second quarter with a three pointer by Aleysha Hill. Hill attacked again with a layup to tie the game up. Leah Barringer laid the ball to allow the Bobcats to regain the lead. However, the lead was short lived as Peyton Looky hit a three pointer of her own. Nadiya Hairston got the ball over to Barringer who put the ball up into the basket. The Bobcats took a four point lead on a three pointer out of the hands of Kirsten Watt. Asia Pearley fired off of a three pointer. The Warriors continued to press on as Taylin Smith hit a three pointer of her own. Makayla Raines stole the ball away from Emily Barr and raced down the court to lay the ball up. Raines was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. The Bobcats regained the lead, but it was short lined as layup by Taylin Smith allowed the Warriors to take a two point advantage going into the locker room.
The Bobcats tied the game up early in the third quarter on free throws by Layla Tillery. Kyra Price stole the ball away from Lees-McRae and sent the ball under the basket to Dynasty Shegog for the layup. Kenley Woods laid the ball up, but the Warriors countered with a layup out of the hands of Taylin Smith. Thailand Smith sent the ball beyond the arc to Shayne Burton who hit a three pointer to give Lees-McRae the lead. Layups by Dynasty Shegog allowed the Warriors to maintain the advantage. Makayla Raines hit another three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to 59-56.
Lees-McRae put up the first basket of the final quarter, but the Warriors would not let them hold the lead for long as Taylin Smith put up a three pointer. Back-to-back three pointers by Dynasty Shegog and Peyton Looky allowed the Warriors to take a six point lead. Lees-McRae fought back with layups out of the hands of Shayne Burton and Kirsten Watt. Layla Tillery put up a jump shot to give Lees-McRae the lead with just under two minutes left on the clock. However, Makayla Raines stole the ball away from the Bobcats and laid it up to tie the game. Seconds before the buzzer sounded, Aleysha Hill put up a three pointer to give the Bobcats an 80-77 victory over the Warriors.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Rome, GA on December 14 to take on the Shorter Hawks at 2pm. They will then enter the holiday break. The Warriors will return to the court on December 30 as they travel to Cullowhee, NC to take on the Western Carolina Catamounts in exhibition play. They will then take on the Furman Paladins on January 1.
