RICHMOND, Virginia - Samantha Taylor scored 21 points and Natalya Kaza added 20 to lead the Lyon College Scots past the Bryant & Stratton Syracuse Bobcats 91-80 in Monday night's USCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Champion semifinal at Virginia State University.

The Scots (16-10) will play in the championship game of the USCAA at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at Virginia State University.

Allison Byars added 17 points and Savanna Lopez had eight points in limited play. Kayla Richardson came off the bench for eight points, while Brooklyn Rowe and Alexis Soloman had six points each and Stella Parker scored four points. 

The Scots fell behind early but came back on made baskets from Taylor and Byars. A flurry of steals and turnovers resulted in a free throw from Kaza and two from Byars. Kaza was fouled again and made two free throws. Richardson made a layup in the paint and Soloman scored on a layup. Kaza put in a short bank shot and Richardson made a free throw. Lopez put in a jump shot for an 18-4 Lyon College lead with 5:39 to play in the first quarter.
Lopez and Parker scored, Lopez put in another basket and Byars made a three-pointer to make it 27-12. Parker made a jump shot and Byars made a free throw for a 30-14 lead by the end of the period.

Taylor made a steal and put in a layup to start the second quarter to double the score on the Bobcats, 32-16. Kaza made a basket about three minutes later and then Kaza made a steal and put in a layup off an assist by Parker. Kaza hit two jumpers in a row to lift the Scots to a 40-21 lead with 5:08 to go before halftime. Taylor made a layup, turned around and made a steal and hit two free throws. Rowe made a three-pointer with 29 seconds left and then hit another three-pointer 20 seconds later to put the Scots ahead 50-34 at the half.

Byars opened the third quarter for Lyon College with a three-pointer, Taylor made one of two from the line, Lopez put in a jumper and Taylor drove in for a layup and a 58-40 lead with 6:46 to go in the third period. Two minutes later, Kaza made a free throw and put in a layup to make it 61-40, the Scots largest lead of the game at the 441 mark. Richardson made a layup and Soloman put down a three-pointer, Richardson made a layup and Taylor hit a last-second shot to put the Scots up 70-58.

Byars scored to open the fourth quarter and two minutes later, Kaza made two free throws after the Bobcats had cut the lead down to nine points. Taylor put in a layup and Byars drove in for a score and Taylor added two free throws to push the Lyon College lead back to 17 points, 80-63 with 6:35 to play in the game. 
Two minutes later, Taylor put in a layup and made two free throws with 4:22 to go. The Bobcats came back to get to within five points, 86-79 with 2:22 left. Byars put in a layup, Kaza made two free throws and Soloman made a free throw in the final seconds to make it a nine-point game.