Box Score Lady Marauders let lead slip away in loss to Lane

 

WILBERFORCE, Ohio - The Lady Marauders led for over 37 minutes of Monday night's game before Lane College manufactured a run to escape Wilberforce, Ohio with a 66-62 win.

 

Coming off a disappointing loss to Kentucky State on Thursday, Central State hoped to rebound against a 2-17 Lane College team. Central State opened the game on a 9-3 run. Sierra Harley put CSU up 11 with a make from beyond the arc with 1:33 to go in the first period and CSU remained in control, 22-15, entering the 2nd quarter. The CSU lead ballooned to 15 after a three-pointer from Aneisha Hardin put the Marauder up 33-18 at the 4:33 mark. Lane managed to keep within striking distance as a Niya Royal layup cut the deficit to 13 at half.

 

The Dragons turned up their defense in the third quarter holding the CSU offense to just 9 points and the offense ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to pull within 3, 48-45, going into the fourth quarter.

 

Central State regained momentum with a 8-2 run to start the fourth and led, 55-47, with 8:16 to go. With a 58-51 lead with 4:17 to go, Central State surrendered a 13-0 run to the Dragons as back-to-back baskets from Niya Royal gave Lane their first lead with 2:16 to play. While Lane built their first lead of the game, CSU did not score until a Kayla Horn layup 12 seconds left cut the LC lead down to 64-60. Forced to foul, CSU sent Royal to the line where she calmly sank both free throws to seal the Lane Victory.

 

"This was one fo the worst losses we have had," CSU Head Coach Sheba Harris said. "We have to be able to put teams away. Instead, we allowed Lane to stay in the game. Their effort level was there and we didn't have an answer."

 

Central State was 0 of 8 from the three point line and shot just 24% in the second half in route to the loss.

 

Royal finished with 17 points to lead all scorers while Dezarae McCoy was a force on the glass with 16 rebounds as Lane improved to 3-17 overall and 3-9 in the conference.

 

Ghameerah McCullers scored 15 points to pace Central State. With the loss, CSU fell to 8-10 on the year and 4-7 in the conference.

 

Central State returns to the hardwood on Thursday to host Spring Hill College at 5:30 pm.

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video