Women's Basketball Outlasts Brenau

ATHENS, Tenn.- The women's basketball team played their final home game of the calendar year on Tuesday. The team will end the year with a 62-58 win on their home court against the Brenau University Golden Tigers, an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent.

TWU jumped out to an early lead with sharp defensive play and efficient scoring. Anna Crowder set the tone with a steal and subsequent free throws, putting TWU on the board. Jacelyn Stone added a layup, followed by Jalaya Lindsey's three-pointer to extend the lead to 9-2. Abbey Barr and Lindsey continued to dominate the offensive glass, creating second-chance opportunities that helped the Lady Bulldogs take a 16-4 advantage. The team closed the quarter with a commanding 19-10 lead.

An adjustment by Brenau helped them narrow the gap in the second quarter though and the opponents eventually took a 24-23 lead. A free throw by Jaci Powell along with a three-pointer by Barr gave the team a 27-26 lead with 3:26 remaining in the second. A late Brenau push gave the visitors a 29-28 lead at the halftime break. 

Ella Crowder gave the Lady Bulldogs back the lead with a layup in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Over the next several minutes, the game saw four lead changes. The final lead change occurred on a Courtney Farr three-pointer, making the score 40-38. A layup by Stone made the score 42-38 at the end of the third quarter. 

The final quarter was a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Lindsey and Stone delivered in key moments, with Stone scoring a layup to keep the team ahead 44-41. Lindsey scored back-to-back buckets and Farr hit another three-pointer to put the team ahead 51-41 with 6:08 remaining. Brenau pushed back one more time in the game but, with under two minutes remaining, Lindsey converted another layup to give the team some breathing room with the scoreboard reading 58-53. Tennessee Wesleyan knocked down free throws at the end to help them finish the game with a 62-58 victory. 

Stone led the contest with 18 points while Lindsey had 17 points and Barr added 10 points.

The schedule gives the team 11 days off before their next game on Saturday, Dec. 7. The team travels to face Columbia College for a conference game beginning at 2:00 p.m.