LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Panther Women's Basketball (8-4, 2-1 Collegiate Conference of the South) fell just two points shy of an incredible comeback victory on Thursday (Jan. 9), being edged by the Covenant College Scots (7-4, 3-0 CCS) by a final score of 88-86 in overtime.

Game Summary
Kendra Roberts scored the first points of the game after a defensive battle in the contest's first 2:09 of action. Despite a much more consistent inside scoring attack early from LaGrange, the Scots held the great equalizer in the form of an explosive three-point game. Covenant would use their early success from behind the arc to nab a 24-16 lead at the end of one.

Trailing by eight to start the second quarter, LC stayed composed as they committed to weathering the storm of a hot Scot offense. The hosts were not quick to relent, however, jumping to a 14-point lead with six minutes left in the first half. With the Panthers in desperate need for someone to step up, Britney Chavez answered the bell with back-to-back threes to spark her team's offense as LC trailed by only five with 3:49 remaining in the second quarter. The turnover bug plagued LaGrange at the end of the second stanza as they trailed 47-37 at halftime.

Things seemingly went from bad to worse at the opening of the second half, as Covenant extended their lead to 12. The Panthers had multiple chances to bring the game within a manageable distance, but could only muster a seven-point gap on several occasions. Failing to make the necessary shots to fully get over the hump in the third, LC found themselves with work to do in the fourth as they entered the final quarter of regulation down 64-51.

The drama was sky-high in the fourth quarter for both teams, as a power struggle ensued from the period's onset. The Panthers faced a major uphill battle, as they trailed by as much as 16 with 7:40 left in regulation. Refusing to roll over, however, LaGrange brought it within five with under five minutes to go. Baskets continued to fall for the Panthers as they made it a three-point game in the final two minutes. LC's never-say-quit attitude finally paid off as they completed the comeback, tying the game at 73 points-apiece to force overtime.

In an extreme battle of wills, both squads fought valiantly in the extra frame as each team did all they could to keep their undefeated conference records intact. Unfortunately for LaGrange, their struggles to make lead-grabbing shots continued as Covenant found themselves in a keep-away game late, with the Panthers' hopes to steal the victory seemingly dwindling. Sadly for LC, the clock would run out as the Scots held on to win 88-86, handing LaGrange their first CCS loss of the season.

Panther of the Game
Amanda Mclendon led the team in scoring with 22 points on the afternoon, tallying three blocks, two steals and eight rebounds in the process from the junior forward.

Up Next
The Panthers will be back in action on Tuesday (Jan. 14) when they travel to Demorest, Ga to take on the Lions of Piedmont University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. with links for streaming and live stats that can be found by clicking here.