November 26, 2005
Lady Monarchs drop 88-86 double-overtime thriller against LaGrange
Harris paces five Methodist players in double-figures with 21 points

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist/InnKeeper Turkey Shootout has always produced some tension-packed thrillers in its five-year history. Saturday’s Methodist-LaGrange showdown was no different. However, Methodist came up on the short end of this “Classic” as the Lady Monarchs dropped a tough 88-86 defeat in double-overtime against LaGrange at the Riddle Center.

The defeat drops Methodist to 2-2 overall.

In the second overtime period, Methodist led twice, including an 86-84 lead on Ann Forsberg’s lay-up off an in-bounds pass. After a tie-up on LaGrange’s ensuing possession, Methodist had the ball with 25 seconds remaining. However, LaGrange’s Latessa Taylor stole the in-bounds pass and fed Heather Power for the game-tying lay-up with 19 seconds remaining.

Following a timeout, Methodist had one final shot to win, but Lindsey Moore stole the ball from the Lady Monarchs’ Ashley Harris and went coast-to-coast for the game-winning jump shot with sixth-tenths of a second remaining.

It looked as if the Lady Monarchs wouldn’t push the game into overtime as LaGrange held a 67-62 lead on Kellee Scandrett’s 3-point basket with 1:37 remaining. However, Methodist took advantage of three LaGrange turnovers and tied the game on Lisa Jackson’s baseline jump shot with 11 seconds remaining.

In the first overtime period, there were two lead changes and four ties. LaGrange took a 78-75 lead on two free throws by Lauren Pannell with 1:09 remaining. But Methodist stormed back as Doris Richards drained a 17-foot jump shot, followed by Stacy Williams’ lay-up on the ensuing possession to give Methodist a 79-78 lead.

Antionett Holliday converted a free throw to increase the Lady Monarch lead to two points, but LaGrange’s Heather Tidwell came off the bench for an injured Taylor and calmly sank two free throws to force a second overtime.

Harris paced Methodist with 21 points and five Lady Monarchs reached double-figures. Jackson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists, followed by Williams with 14 points and Kristen Whitehurst and Holliday each scored 13 points. Holliday also recorded her second straight double-double with 13 rebounds.

Taylor scored 21 points for LaGrange (2-1), followed by Moore with 18 points, Shannah Meares with 15 points and Scandrett added 11 points.

Methodist plays Piedmont on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the Methodist/InnKeeper Turkey Shootout.