Brenau Comes From Behind for Overtime Win

Mobile, AL - Sophomore Nikki Reed (Atlanta) hit a layup with five seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime and Brenau (7-0) outlasted Spring Hill (3-5) tonight 66-62 in a SSAC crossover basketball game. The Badgers had built a 56-46 lead with a little over three minutes left before the Tigers roared back to outscore the home team 10-2 to force the extra session. Point guard Brittney Wiley had another outstanding game with 12 points, three assists and two steals in 41 minutes.

Reed joined Wiley in double figures with 10 and Tania Khudiakova had nine points, seven rebounds and four big blocked shots. She hit 3-4 from behind the arc, including a big one during the comeback in regulation on a night that the Tigers could only manage 5-18 from long range. Olivia Williams came off the bench with another strong effort, tallying six points, five rebounds and two steals.

Brenau won the rebounding battle 47-39, but turned the ball over 31 times and could only manage to hit 11-24 free throws. The Tigers had their best outing of the year defensively, holding the Badgers to .295 from the field. Once again, Brenau counted heavily on the bench, with 11 different players entering the game. Four of the five starters were in foul trouble in the first half, and the backups kept the Tigers in the game until the comeback at the end.

"We just keep finding ways to win games," said Coach Gary Bays. "We played really hard, but not very efficiently in this one and were able to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat at the end. The good news is that we are winning even though we aren't playing as well as we will when we gain needed experience."

Brenau will take on Mobile tomorrow at 2 pm in another SSAC Crossover game before returning home for finals week.