The University of West Georgia women’s basketball team came to play Thursday night versus the 12th ranked Statesmen of Delta State University, and they wouldn’t disappoint the fans. Delta State kept control of the first half on both ends of the floor by taking more shots than the Wolves, and even holding the Wolves to just 8 shots made from the field the entire half. Entering halftime, the Wolves trailed 27-23. The Statesmen were the clear favorite in the conference match-up, but whatever head coach Scott Groninger said to his team in the locker room must have worked. The lady Wolves came out with a new intensity on defense and began to get the best of the Statesmen. Although Marion Lemonnier struggled from the field the entire game, shooting just 3-10 and 1-6 from downtown; Sandre Lee and Nicole Fasick were able to pick up the slack, both reaching double digit scoring. When tough defense is being played, your opponent is bound to get to the free throw line and that is exactly what Delta State University did in the second half to maintain their lead throughout. The Statesmen shot over 90 percent from the charity stripe in the second half, and held on to their lead up until the last seconds of the game. Because West Georgia was able to keep it close, they gave themselves a chance in the end; pulling it out with an unexpected game winning three point shot from Shakiyla McLin. Prior to the buzzer beating bucket, McLin’s stat line was worthy of little praise. Starting at point guard for the Wolves, Mclin played 36 minutes and was only able to produce 2 assist with 4 turnovers and no shots even taken from the field. However, McLin’s first shots of the game came from the free throw line with 45 seconds left in the game and the Wolves trailing by two. McLin knocked down two huge free throws to tie the game at 50. After a missed jumped by the Statesmen, Wolves rebounded and called a timeout with just 16 tics left on the clock. In crunch time, teams usually have their hottest player take the final shot. Nicole Fasick was the only Wolf to get her shots from long range to fall the entire game, shooting 3-7. Nevertheless, if there was to be an unlikely hero, Shakiyla Mclin was the woman for the job. It was almost as if McLin was waiting for that moment, and when it arrived she was more than ready to seal the deal. Wolves rushed the floor ecstatically in celebration after the made three ball, final score: Wolves 53 – Statesmen 50.
