1994

WEEK OF

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than an eighth-place finish in the 16- team tournament. "We're going for seventh place," Pace said after the game. ECCC will face Independence Community College (Kan~as 1 in the con– solation championship game Saturday at 2p.m. But no matter what happens Saturday, ECCC has already placed themselves among the nation's elite · JUCO women's teams. After Friday's games, the Lady Warriors were one of only eight teams still playmg their sea– son, out of 348 JUCO women's teams in the nation. "It feels great," Pace said. "I was ner– vous the whole game. rve been nervous for the last four days." Pace had good reason to be nervous Friday, as he saw his team build up a seven-point second-half lead before the

Lady Danes came back behind 33 points from S t a c y Nesbitt. A f t e r ECCC's Rena Reed, who finished with 25

By Aaron Derr -he Meridian Star

TYLER, Texas - East Central Community College only trailed for a few 'econds during the second half of its ;game against Truett-McConnell College m the semifinal round of the National Junior College Women's Basketball Tournament. The bad news for ECCC is that nine of those seconds were between the :13 and 04 marks in game, after the Lady Danes nad taken their second lead of the half. The good news for the Lady Warriors is that Jamala Odom picked up a loose ball and scored on a layup with four sec– mds left to give ECCC the win in what Lady Warriors coach Sammy Pace called 'the biggest game in ECCC history." With the 85-84 victory, the Lady Warriors assured themselves of no less

points and played the entire game with– out a rest, made 3-of-4 free throws in the last minute, Truett-McConnell's Lakenya Knight hit a driving layup with 13 seconds left to give her team an 83-82 lead. But Reed was able to work the ball down the court before having a layup attempt partially blocked by three Lady Dane defenders. A scramble ensued for the loose ball and Odom, who had eight

ECCC Cont1nued from page 18

ECCC's lead was as big as five and as small as one before Rucker hit another long three– pointer to tie the game at 82-82 with 27 seconds left. Reed then hit 1-of-2 free throws before the late baskets by Knight and Odom resulted in the fmal margin. The Lady Warriors played a zone defense, something unusual for them, for most of the game. Pace said the strategy was used to slow down Nesbitt. "We did as good a job on Nesbitt as we could," he said. ''We were trying to take advan– tage of what we thought was their lack of outside shooting. And wouldn't you know it they hit a couple of huge three's down there at the end." The plan worked for the most

part, as Truett-::\tcConnell ''a' only 2-of-11 from three-point range in the game. ECCC contrnued their rebounding pro\\CS.'- in the tour– nament, outrebounding the Lady Danes 11-29. Reed, Leflore and Odom each had eight rebounds for the Lady Wardor'. ECCC led t l-43 at the half and stretched their lead to 64-57 behind eight points by Nelson in the first seven minutes of the second half. The game was back and furth for the entire first half with the Lady Warriors get rng a big boost from Reed near the end of the half. Reed scored 12 o er team's last 17 points in the half, includ– ing the last six on slicmg driveR through the Lad Danes'

The Lady Danes were led by Nesbitt'~ 33 and got l!l from Latricia Brown. After the Lady Warriors led <14-57 seven minutes into the sec– ond half, Truett-McConnell ran off six consecutive point~ to take n brief 65-64 lead. ECCC answered seconds later on two free throws by Memory Hunter, who finished with 11 pomts. Hunter's shots started a 6-0 run for the Lady Wamors as they took a 70-6!5 lead. After the tRams traded sever– al baskets, Truett-~lcConnell got a long three-pointer from Nakie Rucker to pull to within 76-78 at lhe 4:10 mark.

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