Greenville, S.C – Top-seeded Anderson University women's basketball team overcame a three-point deficit with less than 30 seconds left to play forcing overtime and eventually defeating the Indians, 75-71, on Saturday afternoon at Timmons Arena.
With the victory, the Black and Gold move to 26-4 overall and Catawba (23-6) awaits its postseason fate.
Senior Alexy Mollenhauer shared game-high honors with Catawba's Taisha DeShazo scoring 22 points while pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds. Mollenhauer becomes the first AU player and third player in the SAC record books to record both at least 1,000-points and 1000-rebounds. Senior Madison Baggett netted 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting including 3-of-6 behind the three-point line. Baggett impressive stat-line also consisted of five rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Freshman McKenzie Gadson notched 14 points (8-of-9 free throws) while grabbing five rebounds. Junior Taylor Hair chipped in 10 points with five assists to her credit.
Anderson won the opening tip with Gadson scoring a quick lay-up. On AU's next possession, Baggett drained a three-point basket to put the Trojans up 5-0. After winning the opening quarter, 21-16, Catawba took control of the second stanza midway through erasing the seven-point deficient, 31-30. The Indians outscored the Trojans, 21-13, to carry a three-point lead into the half.
Catawba maintained a lead throughout the third period with the Trojans cutting the lead to one on Gadson's made free throw. The Indians were able to extend their lead to six with 2:26 left to go in the quarter. A layup by Baggett and two made free throws by Gadson cut the lead to three with the fourth quarter to play.
Mollenhauer's jumper with 8:21 remaining gave the Trojans its first lead since the 4:03 in the second quarter. Back-to-back layups by Baggett and Hair pushed AU's lead to five with 6:26 to go.
Catawba regained the lead briefly with a made basket by Lyrik Thorns, 61-60. AU's Gadson found herself at the line again sinking two free throws to claim the one-point lead with 2:02 remaining, 62-61.
The Indians responded by making two free throws and a jumper to go up, 65-62, with 26 seconds remaining. Following Mollenhauer's defensive rebound on an Indian missed free throw, Baggett was able to drain the second three-point look with five seconds to go to force overtime.
Anderson scored the first four points of overtime relinquishing the lead, 70-69, at the 2:22 mark. Freshman Valencia Carroll stepped in off the bench to calmly drain two foul shots to put AU up by one, 71-70, with 2:11 to go.
Catawba tied the contest for the final time, 71-71, with Mollenhauer making 1-of-2 foul shots to put Anderson ahead for final time. The Black and Gold made the final 3-of-4 free throws ( 1 Carroll, 2 Baggett) to defeat the Indians and advance to the finals for the second straight year.
"Very proud of the entire team, especially with how the seniors stepped up and their will to win", said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "Catawba is an excellent team and any of the teams here could have been the No. 1 seed."
"Looking forward to the opportunity to play for the SAC Tournament Title tomorrow," added Barbaree.
No. 1 Anderson will face the winner of Carson-Newman/Tusculum winner. Tip-off is slated for 1 pm at Timmons Arena on the campus of Furman University.
The 2020 SAC Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball Championship
Sunday, March 8 (Timmons Arena, Greenville, S.C.)
Game 7: winner game 5 vs. winner game 6, 1:00 p.m.
