No. 21 Wallace State women complete regular-season sweep over No. 11 Shelton State with big win on road, WSCC men fall to No. 9 Bucs
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s women’s basketball team has compiled a handful of signature wins this season.
None may have been as bigger for the 21st-ranked Lady Lions than Thursday night’s 64-59 victory over No. 11 Shelton State on the road. Wallace State put together a 10-0 run over the final two minutes to erase a five-point deficit and remain perfect in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) North Division. The Lady Lions (24-3, 10-0 ACCC) also pushed their winning streak to 10 games and inched closer to securing the North’s top seed in the conference tournament, which begins March 2 at Wallace State’s Tom Drake Coliseum.
“This win is right up there with the one against Shelton State at home (on Jan. 27) and one of the biggest during my tenure. It was a tremendous effort by our women. I don’t even think we allowed a clean shot near the goal during the last two minutes,” said third-year Wallace State coach Ron Burdette. “It’s really important to our women that we achieve every goal we’ve set out to do. One of our goals was to be a top seed during the conference tournament and we’re nearing that. To be undefeated in the conference is an added bonus.”
Wallace State beat Shelton State at the Umphrey Center for the first time since winning the state tournament title against the Lady Bucs in March 2011.
As was the case on Jan. 27, when Wallace State won 62-61, the contest between the two rivals was tight throughout. The Lady Lions trailed 31-29 at the half and 59-54 with two minutes remaining.
Wallace State put the clamps down the rest of the way, yielding nothing to the Lady Bucs.
“Each player on the floor had a hand in the run,” Burdette said. “We also had huge minutes off the bench in the first half, especially from Haven Albright and Ashley Rodgers.”
Sophomore Jaylan Snowden paced the way for Wallace State, pouring in 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting. She added seven rebounds and three steals.
Morgan Pearson scored 11 points off the bench for the Lady Lions, Rodgers had nine, Hannah Sharpe scored eight, Albright had seven and Brandee Busenlehner added six.
For Shelton State (25-3, 7-2 ACCC), Kendara Watts scored a game-high 19 points.
Both women’s programs have met for the state tournament title game the past three seasons, and it will be no surprise if it happens again this season.
No. 9 Shelton State men 85, Wallace State 63
The ninth-ranked Bucs earned a dose of revenge against the Lions in Thursday night’s finale. Shelton State jumped out to a 52-30 lead at the break and never relinquished it.
Wallace State (21-6, 7-2 ACCC) was led in the loss by Lee Moore’s 22 points. Jestin Lewis added 19 points and Marcus Johnson pitched in five.
Brandon Moss scored 19 points off the bench for Shelton State (23-4, 7-3 ACCC), while Albert Lynch III had 18.
Wallace State won the first meeting between the rivals, 92-85, on Jan. 27. Despite Thursday’s loss, the Lions maintain a one-game lead in the ACCC North Division with three regular season tilts remaining.
Both Wallace State teams travel to Gadsden State on Saturday. They return home on Monday for the regular season finale beginning with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. Sophomores from both teams will be recognized during sophomore night.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
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Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu