MEMPHIS-Visiting West Alabama out-scored the Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs 10-0 over the final 2:10 as they rallied for a 62-54 win over CBU Saturday afternoon in the final game before the Christmas holidays for both schools.
UWA (5-5, 2-4 GSC) led for most of the game, taking an early 17-6 edge after a 15-1 run capped by a Kelcia Bufkin jumper with 12:04 remaining in the first half. The Lady Bucs used a 14-3 burst to close within 21-20 on a
Breanna Ridgell (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) three-point play with 6:57 remaining in the half, but UWA scored the next four points and maintained the lead into the second half.
CBU (4-7, 2-4) finally completed their comeback when a
Rachel Lee (Jackson, Tenn./Jackson Christian School) three-point play tied the game at 44 with 9:38 remaining. CBU took their first lead since the opening minutes when
Madison Luckett (Memphis, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) scored back-to-back baskets with 3:17 and then 2:43 remaining, giving them a 54-52 edge, but CBU had three missed shots, two missed free throws and a turnover in the game's final two minutes. UWA tied the game with a Latisha McCullum layup with 2:10 remaining, and they took the lead for good with a pair of Bufkin free throws with 1:34 remaining. They made 4-of-5 free throws in the final 40 seconds to salt away the victory.
Ridgell and
Courtney Banks (Memphis, Tenn./White Station HS) led the Lady Bucs with 12 points each, and
Taylor Pugh (Memphis, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian HS) scored 11 with 10 rebounds, six blocks and five assists before fouling out. Luckett posted nine points with a season-high nine rebounds.
Britney McCloud paced the Tigers with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Bufkin scored 12.
The Tigers shot 40 percent (22-of-55) to the Lady Bucs' 34.4 percent (22-of-64). UWA held a 46-31 edge on the glass, including a 14-10 lead in offensive rebounds, but they committed 21 turnovers to the Lady Bucs' 16.
The Lady Bucs return to action Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. as they host No. 25 Harding in their final non-conference game of the season.