ANDERSON, S.C – Anderson University women's basketball was able to avert the upset bid by the Railspitters coming from behind, 59-57, to advance to the SAC semifinals Wednesday evening at the Abney Athletic Center.
With the victory, the Trojans move to 25-4 overall while the Railsplitters' season ends at 10-17 overall.
Junior Taylor Hair scored a team-high 18 points while senior Alexy Mollenhauer netted 15 points and 13 rebounds recording her 19th double-double of the season. Freshman McKenzie Gadson dropped in 10 points with three blocked shots to her credit. Senior Madison Baggett scored all nine of her points in the fourth period to go along with seven rebounds and four assists on the night.
Lincoln Memorial's Shermeria Quarles scored a game-high 19 points while Sydney Newsome chipped in 13 points and five rebounds for the Railsplitters.
After a tightly contested first-half, the Trojans were able to build an eight point lead heading into halftime. Up by two-points with just under three minutes remaining, AU's Hair scored six of the final eight points to help give the Black and Gold a, 36-28, halftime lead.
Lincoln Memorial outscored Anderson 16-6 in the third period of action. AU's Gadson scored four of the six points with Hair dropping in a bucket. The Railspitters' were able to erase the halftime deficient to lead by two with one quarter to play.
Down by six with eight minutes to go, AU's Mollenhauer made three free throws after being fouled from behind the arc to begin the last quarter rally. Over the next two minute span Baggett hit 3-of-4 foul shots and the senior tandem chased down three offensive rebounds.
Following a three-point basket by LMU with just over three minutes left to play and down by four. Baggett answered back with a long range three to pull the Trojans within one. LMU responded with two made foul shots while Mollenhauer steal and Hair's 18 point on the night once again pulled the Black and Gold within one with 1:52 left to play.
The Trojans got the stop they needed when Hair made a steal under the basket. On the offensive end, Baggett was given just enough daylight to rip the go ahead three-point basket with 1:09 on the clock.
The Railspitters' were able to get off two three-point shots before Mollenhauer secured the rebound with 41 seconds remaining. With one last possession, LMU's upset bit fell just short as time expired.
"Well, we get to survive and advance as they say", said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "You can't say enough about how hard LMU played. Coach Brewton did an excellent job getting them ready to play again after just playing us four days ago. His seniors definitely left it all on the court."
"As for us I'm proud of our fight, our composer and our will to win," exclaimed Barbaree. "We look forward to heading to Furman."
No. 1 Anderson will face the fifth-seeded Indians from Catawba on Saturday in the SAC semifinal round. Tip-off is slated for 12 pm at Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.
The 2020 SAC Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball Championship
Saturday, March 7 (Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C.)
Game 5: Anderson vs. Catawba, Noon
Game 6: Carson-Newman vs. Tusculum, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8 (Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C.)
Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 1:00 p.m.
