Box Score (PDF)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The 19th-ranked Lyon College women's basketball team controlled the second half of the game on Thursday night to pull away from Philander Smith College, 76-59, in non-conference play. The Scots led by two points at halftime and outscored the Panthers, 41-26, over the final two periods. Lyon improved to 7-1 with the win, while Philander Smith dropped to 7-4.

A three-pointer by Ali Tucker at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter jumpstarted the Scots offensively as Madison Riley followed with six straight points before another three by Tucker. The Scots continued their big run as Katie Turner and Oumy Ndoye added a bucket each to give Lyon a 21-9 advantage after a 13-0 run. Philander Smith cut the Scots' lead in half after six straight points, but a three-pointer by Randi Thompson and another bucket by Riley gave Lyon a 26-15 lead after the first quarter.

Philander Smith began to work its way back into the game in the second quarter as a three-pointer by Briauna Mitchell knotted up the score at 33-33 with 1:42 left in the half. Ndoye added two more points to her total for the Scots just before the half as Lyon took a 35-33 lead over the Panthers.

Samantha French opened up the third quarter with back-to-back jumpers before a three-pointer by PSC's Terralyn Dominick moved the score to 39-36 in favor of the Scots with 8:35 remaining in the quarter. Following the three by Dominick, the Scots held the Panthers scoreless over the next five minutes and took advantage of the cold shooting by Philander Smith extend their lead to 53-36. A jumper by Larena Walker at the 3:34 mark in the third quarter ended a five-minute drought for the Panthers as Philander Smith would go on to score the final six points of the quarter to pull within 12 points at 56-44.

Philander Smith gave one last effort to come back against Lyon in the fourth quarter and pulled back within 11 points at 58-47, but that would be as close as the Panthers would get the rest of the way.

Riley finished with a game-high 21 points to lead the Scots offensively, while French posted her third double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Dominick finished as the leading scorer for the Panthers with 15 points.

The Scots will return home and open up a six-game home stand against American Midwest Conference foe Missouri Baptist on Dec. 15.

Women's Basketball Contact: Matt Jagodzinski | 870-307-7516 | matthew.jagodzinski@lyon.edu
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