No. 24 Wallace State women’s basketball gets double-double from Morgan Hardy in win over Lakeland College

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State’s 24^th-ranked women’s basketball team capped a perfect two-game stretch in the Comfort Suites New Year’s Classic with a dominant 76-52 victory over Lakeland College (Alberta, Canada) at Tom Drake Coliseum on Sunday.
Wallace State’s Morgan Hardy, a sophomore from Hueytown, finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds, setting a career high in both categories en route to her first career double-double as the Lady Lions (15-1) coasted to their 11^th win a row.
Hardy was among four Wallace State players to finish with double figures. Morgan Smith finished with 16 points and five rebounds, Haven Albright had 16 points, three assists and three steals and Tyra Caudle pitched in with 11 points off the bench.
BreAnna Thompson added nine points and 11 rebounds and Kaneisha Mixon scored nine points for Wallace State, which also edged No. 23 Wabash Valley College by four points during its tournament opener Saturday.
“We’re playing some good basketball. I’m very pleased. I consider these games to be the end of the year and we finished 15-1. We beat a ranked team on Saturday and a team that is ranked in Canada. We handled adversity well during the tournament and continue to get better.  We are a deeper team than we were last year, and we are more athletic and quicker than I thought we might be,” said Wallace State coach Ron Burdette, whose team is 6-0 at home.
During its 11-game winning streak, Wallace State is allowing only 51.6 points per game and is cleaning up on the glass as evidenced by Hardy’s double-double.
Hardy, who is listed at 5-foot-9, has gobbled up rebounds all season for the Lady Lions, but especially lately. She is averaging 6.6 boards a game, collecting 12, 12 and 14 rebounds respectively in her last three games, including eight offensive rebounds on Sunday.
“One of the referees told me Morgan Hardy was the best offensive rebounder he’s ever seen in his life. She definitely plays taller than 5-9 for us. Morgan just goes and gets it,” Burdette said. “She’s not the most gifted offensively, but contributes so much by keeping the ball alive for us.”
Wallace State opened Sunday’s game against the Canadian-based Rustlers with a 17-10 lead with 13:31 to go in the first half. With 9:20 remaining, Smith gave
Wallace State a 26-16 advantage with a three-pointer well beyond the left arc. The Lady Lions built as much as an 18-point lead late in the first half after an Albright 3-pointer and maintained a comfortable 45-28 cushion at break.
Wallace State’s lead was never in jeopardy in the second half, as the Lady Lions put together as much as a 27-point advantage.
In the women’s Comfort Suites bracket, Wallace State and No. 21 Shelton State each went 2-0. Wabash Valley went 1-2 and Lakeland College went 0-3.
Both Wallace State basketball teams are back in action on Thursday, hosting Motlow State beginning with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. Conference play begins Jan. 13 at Gadsden State.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.