Women’s basketball ends losing streak

By Meg Weathersby | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College women’s basketball team ended an eight game losing streak with a win over UNC Pembroke Saturday afternoon at Flagler Gym. The Saints record is now 7-13 overall and 2-9 in the Peach Belt Conference.

The Saints went into the game well prepared. Head coach Erika Lang-Montgomery spent time scouting UNC Pembroke.

“We knew who their good players were,” Lang-Montgomery said.
The Saints started off sluggish in the first and second half. The team was able to rely on each other and battle back.

“We played as a team for the first time in a long time,” said senior captain Jalisa Foster.

The Braves led 22-10 during the first half, but the Saints crept back and ended the half down by a meager four.

The Braves jumped out in the second half and extended the lead to 37-28.

“We started a little slow in the second half, but we we’re able to fight through that,” Lang-Montgomery said.

As the half continued Briana Stanton from UNCP fouled a Saint. Jalisa Foster took the free throws and made both which closed the gap between the two teams. UNCP was up 51-53 with eight minutes left when Jen Mitchell sank a three, putting the Saints in the lead at 53-54.

“Our execution paid off today,” said Foster.

With about two minutes left on the clock, Lang-Montgomery called a timeout to talk things over with her team. Immediately after the timeout, Chanti Beckett got fouled and added two points to the board.

The Braves kept playing hard and continually contested the Saints. Pembroke hit a three to regain the lead at 68-66. With less than thirty seconds left in the game, Foster got called for a foul, but the Braves player missed both foul shots. Saints then gained possession and charged down court. Mitchell was open again and without hesitation she made her last three of the game. The Saints led 68-69 with time dwindling away. The next play, Mitchell was fouled and added two to the Saints score.

The Braves dribbled up court with ten seconds left on the clock. They shot for the tie, but missed and time expired. The Saints won the Peach Belt Conference match up 71-68.

After the victory, the Saints spoke like they had been liberated.

“The weight is off our shoulders now, but now we need to get prepared for the next game. We know we can do it,” Beckett said.