Box Score
Mobile, AL-Junior Jira Williams sunk two free throws with four seconds left on the clock to help the Belhaven women's basketball team top the University of Mobile on Thursday night 74-72. It was the first win at Mobile in the programs history. The Lady Blazers raised their record to 11-4 overall and now stand at 2-1 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. The Lady Rams fall to 9-6 overall and 2-1 in the GCAC.

 

Belhaven built an early lead scoring the first two baskets of the night thanks to a pair of Jaelyn Stringer field goals to put the Lady Blazers on top 4-0 in the first two minutes of the game. Belhaven held the lead until the 16:08 mark of the first half when Gerica Johnson split a pair of free throws to knot the score at 8-8. The Lady Blazers then built their lead to five points at 18-13 with 9:48 to play in the opening half on a field goal by Molly Yildirm.

 

With the score in Belhaven's favor at 20-16, Mobile grabbed the momentum by going on a 20-5 run to close out the first half. The run by the Lady Rams covered the final 9:05 of the second half clock. The Lady Blazers only points during that time came on a Jira Williams free throw and a field goal by Williams and Brittany Skipper.

 

Mobile came out of the locker room in the second half and promptly built their advantage to 15 points on a field goal by Danielle Goodly and Gerica Johnson. Mallory Hammack got the Lady Blazers on the board in the second half at the 18:28 mark on a three pointer to pull Belhaven to within 12 points. The Lady Blazers continued to chip away at the lead and trimmed the Mobile lead to six points with 13:52 left on a basket by Jaelyn Stringer.

 

The Lady Rams then countered with a mini 4-0 to boost the Belhaven deficit back to 10 points. The Lady Blazers then reeled off a 17-7 run during the next 4:44 to tie the score at 59-59 with eight minutes to go in the contest. Mallory Hammack drilled one of her four triples on the night off an assist by Holly Dial. Belhaven then grabbed their first lead since the opening half when Kimberly Ward tossed in a field goal to make the score 65-64 with just under four minutes to play.

 

The Lady Blazers owned a three point lead with 40 seconds left in the game after Jira Williams converted one of two free throw attempts at the charity stripe. On their next possession, the Lady Rams had four looks at the basket by grabbing three offensive rebounds before Danielle Goodly hit a field goal and drew a foul from Mallory Hammack with 15 seconds on the clock. Goodly then converted the old fashion three point play and the score was again tied at 72-72.

 

With four seconds to go, Jira Williams misfired on a field goal but gathered in the offensive rebound and was fouled by Gerica Johnson sending her to the free throw line. Williams converted both shots from the line and a last second three pointer by Johnson failed to connect, giving Belhaven the 74-72 victory.

 

Mallory Hammack had a season high 18 points to lead the Belhaven offense. Jaelyn Stringer had 23 points followed by Jira Williams with 12 points and a team high seven rebounds. Courtney Ward dished out a team high six assists to help set up some key Lady Belhaven baskets. The Lady Blazers hit 42 percent of their shots from the field and fired in 47 percent of their three pointers. Belhaven went 7 for 11 from behind the arc in the second half to help spark the rally. Belhaven also won the battle of the boards with a 41-37 advantage over the Lady Rams.

 

Mobile was led by Danielle Goodly with a game high 25 followed by Gerica Johnson with 17 points and Blair Stevens with 11. Goodly and Johnson both recorded double doubles with 10 and 14 rebounds respectively.