Comeback Falls Short for Lynn Women’s Basketball

Dahlonega, Ga. – Two last second shots that could have sent the game into overtime were blocked as Lynn University’s women’s basketball team fell 62-59 to North Georgia in the final game of the Chic-Fil-A Tip-Off Classic.  Chelsea Patterson garnered All-Tournament honors following her game-high 21 point performance.  The Fighting Knights drop to 1-3 overall.

Trailing by four points with 13 seconds left in the game, Patterson drove the length of the court and was fouled as she attempted a three-pointer from the left wing.  The senior guard converted on the first two attempts then missed the third intentionally.

Marquis Lee came down with the rebound and immediately went back up with a shot through a sea of white jerseys but had the initial attempt blocked back into her hands.  With the seconds ticking off the clock, she went back up for potential game-tying basket with hands pushing all around but Lindsey Moss blocked the final effort to seal the victory.

Patterson and Quanisha Dixon combined for 22 points and six assists in the second half after a slow opening stanza.  Dixon finished with 13 points.

The first half saw its share of ups and downs for Lynn as it was down by as many as 11 but came back to finish the period trailing 32-29.  Amanda Schultz was the sparkplug off the bench, scoring 10 of her 16 points.

Combining to go 1-for-11 through the first 15 minutes, Patterson and Dixon found their shots as LU cut the double-digit deficit to one point.  The duo knocked down back-to-back threes from the right wing and Patterson slipped a shot just as the shot clock was expiring late in the half to finish off a 13-3 run.

Both teams battled in the second period but North Georgia (4-1) could not pull away.  The Blue & White would knock down a shot or pull together a big defensive stop at every Saints turn.  Lynn, though, had three chances to either take the lead or tie the game but missed those opportunities.

Free throws also hurt LU as it went 6-for-14 (42.9%) from the line compared to 14-for-23 (60.9%) from NG.  Lynn forced 21 turnovers and tallied 12 steals, holding North Georgia to 42.6% shooting from the floor while hitting 40% of its shots.

The Fighting Knights return to action on Friday, November 26, at 5:30 p.m. when they return to the friendly confines of the de Hoernle Sports & Cultural Center to host Palm Beach Atlantic.  Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com.