The LaGrange College Women's Basketball Team (1-1) was bested by the Emory University Eagles (1-0) by a final score of 70-66 Wednesday (Nov. 13) in a back-and-forth affair that needed overtime to decide a winner in the Panthers' first game at Mariotti Gymnasium this season.

Game Details
Amanda Mclendon got things going early the Panthers to start the game on a quick 3-0 run. Zyhia Johnson also joined in on the action shortly thereafter, scoring double-digit points in the first quarter with 10 as LC trailed by six at the end of one.

Mclendon continued to push her team forward with six points in the second quarter to tie things up at 23-apiece. With things back at even-stevens, Laila Battle did the honors of putting the Panthers in front for the first time in the contest with a strong layup to make it 27-26 in favor of LaGrange. Both teams continued to trade blows, highlighted by an electrifying three-pointer from Johnson to put LC into the 30's as they trailed by eight at the half 40-32.

The Panthers continued their fearless effort in the second half as they slowly inched their way out of the eight-point deficit with a handful of defensive stops and timely baskets. The raucous Mariotti Gym crowd of 240 Panther faithful entered euphoric pandemonium when Kendra Roberts drained a three to regain the lead for the home team as they entered the final period of regulation up 49-46.

Unwilling to go down without a fight, the Eagles punched right back as they put themselves back in front with two baskets early in the fourth quarter to go up 50-49. Emory held a three-point edge for several minutes before LC found their way back in the fold with a clutch three-pointer from Britney Chavez to go up 60-58 late in the contest. Despite their best efforts to pull away, the Panthers were unable to hold off Emory's late rally as both teams headed into overtime knotted up at 64.

Overtime proved to be a microcosm of regulation, with the Eagles being the ones to throw the first blow early in the period to go up 66-64. LaGrange would tie things up at 66 before the visitors answered right back with a quick layup to regain their two-point lead 68-66 with just over two minutes remaining. After several promising opportunities to tie or better, LC sadly ran out of head room as Emory put the nail in the coffin with two free throws in the final seconds to ice the game and walk away with a hard-fought 70-66 win.

Top Panther Performers
Zyhia Johnson had an outstanding game with 24 points, three steals and two assists for the Panthers.

Amanda Mclendon finished the night just shy of 20 with 19 points, leading the team in rebounds with 15.

Next Game
The Panthers will be back in action this weekend (Nov. 16-17) when they take on Berry College and Sewanee College in the CCS/SAA Classic. For links to stream those matchups and live stats, click here.