November 30, 2009

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LAURINBURG, N.C.—Senior point guard Jaquese Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) made a game-tying jumper in the paint with 45 seconds left in regulation and then hit a pair of clutch game-winning free throws with 5.9 seconds on the clock to lead the St. Andrews women’s basketball team to a 74-72 non-conference victory over Allen University on Monday evening in Harris Court.

Senior Jaquese Smith (pictured) scored the game-tying and game-winning points in the final minute to lead St. Andrews to a comeback victory on Monday evening.

“Jaquese [Smith] stepped up big for us,” said Jessica Vanco, St. Andrews second year head coach.  “She tied the game for us and then hit the game winning free throws. She played like a senior for us down the stretch.”

Junior Lolonda Byrd-Davis and freshman Natie Gasque (Georgetown, S.C.) both just missed tallying double-double’s in helping the Lady Knights pick up their first regular season win in over a year. SAPC improved to 1-3 on the early season.

“I’m very proud of our effort, especially in the second half. We were down 10 and proved we can come back and win,” expressed Vanco.

Gasque led the Lady Knights with 14 points, while Byrd-Davis tossed in seven points. Byrd-Davis yanked down a team-high 11 rebounds while Gasque crashed the glass for eight boards. SAPC finished with a 51-47 rebounding edge.

The Yellow Jackets (0-7) held a 10-point advantage, 63-53, before St. Andrews closed out the game with a 21-9 surge over the final six minutes to squeak out the two-point victory. Sophomore Brittany Roberts (Concord, N.C.) and freshman Kayla McBath (Orlando, Fla.) boosted the late comeback with five points apiece in the closing minutes before Smith highlighted the rally with the final four points of the game.

SAPC had its best shooting performance of the season making nearly 39-percent of its field goals while holding Allen to under 35-percent from the floor. The Knights connected on a season-best six 3-pointers including a trio of treys by both Roberts and freshman Courtney Zona (Charlotte, N.C.). St. Andrews received points from all 10 Lady Knights that entered the game.

Roberts (13), Zona (9), and McBath (6) all finished with season-high point totals. Sophomore Megan Lee (Chillicothe, Ohio) provided seven points and six rebounds while freshman Essence Chism (Garner, N.C.) chipped in with six points and five boards. Smith, Lee, and Roberts all dished out four assists.

St. Andrews raced out to the largest lead of the contest, 26-15, to start the game but Allen finished the first half on an 18-7 run to tie the score, 33-33, at halftime. The game featured nine lead changes and eight ties, showcasing the heart at which both institutions played the game as both squads battled for their first win of the season.

The Knights trailed by eight points (66-58) heading into the final four minutes before stringing together an 8-1 run that climbed St. Andrews right back into contention. Roberts stared the rally by drilling a long two-pointer from the right wing with her foot on three-point arc; McBath netted the next five points including an old-fashion three-point play; and freshman Briana Bombich (Pawleys Island, S.C.) deadlocked the score by pulling down a big offensive board and making a lay-up for her only two points.

The Yellow Jackets hit a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to regain the lead but Roberts deposited her third trifecta to catapult the Knights into the lead, 70-69. Allen answered with a made free throw and a basket to regain a two-point lead, 72-70, heading into the final minute. After a St. Andrews timeout, Smith drove the lane and hit a six-foot jumper to knot the score for the eighth and final time. The Yellow Jackets misfired on their next possession giving the Knights the ball for the last 19 seconds with the shot clock turned off. After running off some of the clock, Smith started to penetrate from the left wing when Allen was called for a foul sending the senior to the free throw line. Smith confidently sank the go-ahead freebees with 5.9 left and then St. Andrews defense stepped up holding the Yellow Jackets without a shot as time expired.

Both teams were plagued by foul trouble as the referees whistled a total of 53 fouls. Each team had three players foul out in the second half. SAPC converted on 16-of-21 (76.2%) free throws while Allen made 21-of-33 (63.6%) attempts from the charity stripe.

St. Andrews concludes a three-game home stand when the Lady Knights entertain Conference Carolinas rival Lees-McRae College on Saturday at 2 p.m.