Lions Unable to Complete Comeback

MARS HILL, N.C. – Mars Hill dropped a 78-71 decision to Anderson University in South Atlantic Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday night in Stanford Arena. With the loss, the Lions fall to 2-11 and 1-8 in the SAC while Anderson improves to 8-7 and 3-5 in the league.

Kelsey Espinosa led the Lions with a season high 23 points, with Ansley Ricker and Genice Lane contributing 15 and 11 points respectively. Lane also led Mars Hill with nine rebounds.

Lesley Woods scored 17 points to lead Anderson, going five for 10 from behind the arc. Sierra Simpson, Jasmine Franklin and Heather Jankowy also finished in double figures for the Trojans.

Anderson opened the scoring thanks to a pair of Jennifer Monroe free throws 35 seconds into the game, with the Lions taking their first lead thanks to an Autumn Ward 3-pointer at the 18:53 mark. The teams swapped the lead five times and were tied twice before a Woods 3-pointer gave the Trojans a 17-16 lead they wouldn't relinquish with 10:01 to play in the first half. Anderson took a 47-38 lead into halftime.

After trailing by 16 with 15:42 to play, the Lions cut the Anderson lead to five with 8:01 remaining and cut the lead to 69-68 with 2:53 to play. A 3-pointer from Woods gave Anderson a 72-68 lead with 2:40 to play before an Espinosa layup trimmed the Trojan lead back to two with 2:22 remaining.  Espinosa had a chance to tie the contest at 72 with 50 seconds to play but her jump shot clanked off of the rim. Simpson and Jankowy each made a pair of free throws before Lane sank a free throw with 13 seconds remaining, trimming the Trojan lead to five. Jankowy was fouled on the next Anderson possession and made her free throws to secure the victory.

Mars Hill welcomes Catawba College on Saturday, January 18. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.