Calumet Edges Chattanooga in Semifinals

The Lady Chieftains held off a fourth quarter comeback to advance to the Gold Ball game.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:09 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Mar 4, 2011 9:42 PM CDT

From CoachesAid.com:
- 2011 Basketball Playoff Headquarters

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Calumet’s Mariah Miles sparked the lady Chieftains’ offense early and they rode that momentum to a 34-31 win over Chattanooga Friday.

The senior guard scored Calumet’s first 11 points, including back-to-back three-pointers, to give the Lady Chieftains an 11-7 lead early.

Trailing 14-9 as the first quarter ended, Chattanooga junior Bailey McBride drove for a layup and finished off the three-point play to close to just two points.

Chattanooga center Jamie Brown used her height in the second quarter to give the Lady Warriors the lead. The 6-foot center scored seven of the Lady Warriors’ nine, second quarter points to cut the deficit to 21-20 at half.

Calumet knocked down back-to-back shots to start the second half to extend the lead to 25-20. Chattanooga sophomore Miranda Patton hit a three-pointer to cut it to one possession.

The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter and once again, McBride scores at the buzzer to cut the lead to 30-27 heading into the final eight minutes. Brown scored on a put-back and was fouled, but was unable to hit the free throw to tie the game.

Katelyn Richardson converted on a pair of free throws to take the lead back to three points.

Chattanooga’s Morgan Whatley scored on a layup to close it back to one point, but Miles hit both on a one-and-one to seal the game. She finished with a game-high 18 points, nine coming from behind the arc.

Brown led Chattanooga with 15 points, with McBride adding six in the loss.

The Lady Chieftains will take on the Cyril Lady Pirates for the Gold Ball at 7 p.m. Friday.