Lady Eagles Come Out on the Winning Side of a Pair of Final Second Shots
2/6/2011 1:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Just three seconds after Monique Floyd hit what looked like the game-winner for UNC Greensboro (10-12, 7-7), Meredyth Frye (Fredericksburg, Va.) went coast-to-coast for Georgia Southern (10-13, 7-7) and dropped in the final shot in a 68-67 thriller Saturday, February 5th. The Lady Eagles won their eighth-straight home game and ninth of the season thanks in part to a supportive crowd of 1,142 at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Lady Eagles forced two inbound plays and a pair of timeouts during Greensboro's final possession, but Floyd dropped in a layup out of the second timeout with eight seconds remaining.
Samantha Williams (Kingsport, Tenn.), who surpassed her career-high for points in back-to-back games, threw in the inbound pass to Frye with just 4.7 remaining on the clock. Frye quickly crossed the length of the court and split two defenders for the layup.
Lead changes defined the game. The two teams exchanged the lead 15 times and were tied four times.
Williams led the Lady Eagles with 18 points, five assists and six rebounds. Frye added 16 points and scored in double figures for the 13th time this year. Monique Floyd led all scorers and the Spartans with 27 points and nine rebounds.
Georgia Southern used the same lineup for the second-straight game. Danielle Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.) responded to her third-straight start and scored nine points and blocked two shots.
The two teams exchanged the lead four times in the first half before UNC Greensboro opened up a 17-12 lead with 8:44 to play. Georgia Southern held a one-point lead twice and was ahead 8-7 with 14:24 remaining. Williams drained a jumper in both instances putting the Lady Eagles on top. Georgia Southern ripped off a 6-0 run to pull within two points, 20-18, of the Spartans, but Brey Dorsett drained a trey with 3:27 left in the first half to put Greensboro back on top by five points.
Georgia Southern trailed by only a point, 25-24, with 1:51 remaining in the first half after Williams drained a basket from behind the arc. The two teams traded a pair of jumpers before Dayshaun Richbow hit a floater as time expired to give the Spartans a 29-26 halftime lead.
Williams paced the Lady Eagles in the first period with nine points and two assists. Jamie Navarro (Naples, Fla.) played nearly the entire first half and was one of three Georgia Southern players to pull down four boards. Monique Floyd led the Spartans with eight points and five rebounds, while Janae Stevenson added six points in 12 minutes of action.
Georgia Southern quickly tied the game at 33-33 in the first four minutes of the second half. Frye capped off a 7-2 run with a pair of free throws, but UNC Greensboro quickly responded and took an eight point lead. Ro-Ro Smith (Blackshear, Ga.), along with Williams gave the Lady Eagles their first lead of the second half. Williams pulled off a three-point play to end a 9-0 run.
Georgia Southern takes on Elon Monday, February 7th in the finale of the two-game homestand. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Hanner Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles will have seven days off before hitting the road for Western Carolina on February 14th.
Fans may follow Georgia Southern Women's Basketball by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/ladyeagles or check in at twitter.com/GSAthletics or facebook.com/GSAthletics for short updates. Scores from Charleston will be available on twitter.com/GSScores.
