Double OT win moves #2 Lady Indians to 7-0

Coming into the World Exposure Report Invitational, Chipola head coach Greg Franklin and his team knew they were going to have their hands full, facing two top 25 teams in two days. After a hard fought 93-87 win over #25 Seward County on Friday night, the #2 Lady Indians needed two overtimes but came away with a 101-98 win over #9 Georgia Highlands on Saturday night at The Milt.

The first half set the one for the game as both teams took turns with the lead. The Lady Indians dominated much of the first quarter but a three-pointer from the Lady Chargers as time expired in the first quarter closed the lead to five, 19-14. 

Georgia Highlands carried momentum into the second quarter to grab the lead away from the Lady Indians. Chipola sent their opponents to the line twelve times in the quarter and Georgia Highlands took advantage, making ten of twelve shots. As both teams went to the locker rooms, the Lady Chargers held a 38-36 lead.

Georgia Highlands extended their lead in the third quarter going on a 12-0 run to begin the second half. The resilient Lady Indians chipped away at the lead throughout the quarter and with less than a minute remaining, Jordan McLaughlin drove to the basket to tie the game. The Lady Chargers managed to put up four points in the remaining seconds to take a 58-54 lead.

The Lady Chargers would continue to add to their lead throughout the first half of the fourth quarter. With five minutes remaining, the Lady Indians trailed by seven before once again cutting down the deficit. With two minutes remaining, Chipola would tie the game at 75 on a drive to the basket from Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins. 

The teams would exchange points the remainder of the quarter. Schira Fowles appeared to hit the winning shot with ten seconds remaining. After the Lady Indians turned the ball over, on an inbounds pass in front of their own bench, Wright-Gaskins stole the ball and passed to Fowles who buried a three to break a tie game and give Chipola an 82-79 lead. The lead was short lived, however, as Georgia Highlands hit a three to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime, the Lady Indians would once again have to fight from behind and, once again, a big three-pointer from Fowles tied the score 89-89 with two minutes remaining. Under ten seconds remaining and trialing by two, Fowles went to the line with a chance to tie the game. She missed both shots but Justina Graham got the rebound and scored to tie the game with 2.2 seconds remaining.

Following a time-out and the Lady Chargers advancing the ball to their end of the floor, a wide-open lay-up rimmed out to send the game into a second overtime, tied 94-94.

Both teams managed only a field goal in the second overtime but techinal fouls and free throws became the difference. A technical foul on the Georgia Highlands bench and another for entering a substitute with an incorrect number, helped Chipola push the lead out to 100-94 with 1:30 remaining. Georgia Highlands would get to within two and have chances to tie the game but the Chipola defense came up big to get the 101-98 win.

Schira Fowles collected her second double-double fo the season, scoring 17 points and bringing in 14 rebounds. Shimei Muhammed had 14 for the Lady Indians.

All-Tournament team member, Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins also had a double-double, pouring in 26 points and crashing the boards for 11 rebounds.

Tournament MVP, Jordan McLaughlin followed up her 37 points from the previous night with a 16 point performance.

Chipola will have a week off before getting ready for a five game road trip. The Lady Indians will travel to Daytona State College on November 20. 

Season Notes

• The Lady Indians are 7-0 on the year and averaging 95 points per game while holding their opponents to 50.6 points per game.
• Dating back to the opening game of last season's State Tournament, Chipola has won 12 of their last 13 games.
• The Lady Indians have three players in the FCSAA top ten for points per game: Jordan McLaughlin (4th - 19.7 ppg); Ta'Shonna Wright-Gaskins (8th - 17.3 ppg); and Ashley Baez (14.2 ppg).
• Schira Fowles is 3rd in the FCSAA with 12.0 rebounds per game.