Lady Pioneers pick up win in Alabama

CRC Athletics
Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Crowley’s Ridge College Lady Pioneers gave head coach Brad Phillips his first win at the helm, defeating the Faulkner (Ala.) University Lady Eagles in the Christian College Classic 73-63.

The Lady ‘Neers (1-1) jumped out to a 19-9 lead in the first quarter, led by the one-two punch of Nakeeva Brandon and Kianna Hardaway in the post.

Faulkner (1-1) began shooting better in the second quarter to close the gap to 31-24. At intermission, the Lady Pioneers out-rebounded their opponents 32-22, while holding the Lady Eagles to shooting 19% from the floor.

The Lady Eagles came back strong in the third and fourth quarters, tying the game at 39 with 2:52 remaining in the third off of a Micala Fisanick three-pointer. The tie would be as close as Faulkner got, with Kianna Hardaway and Travia Woodruff combining for an 8-0 run to end the quarter.

That run knocked any wind out of the sails of the home team, with the Lady Eagles not coming any closer than seven points before the buzzer sounded to give Crowley’s Ridge the 73-63 lead.

As a team, CRC shot 46.8% from the floor, led by Octavia Lowery’s 26 points. Behind her offensively was Kianna Hardaway’s 19 points and Travia Woodruff’s 13.

The Lady Pioneers front-court impressed Coach Phillips with a 36-point night in the paint. “I thought our forwards and posts played well tonight,” Phillips said, “Total team effort.”