Panthers Take Down Lynn in OT Thriller

Julie McCarthy - Photo credit: James Ragan Photography

Julie McCarthy hit the game-winning layup with 11 seconds left in overtime Wednesday night, helping the Florida Tech women get a much-needed Sunshine State Conference win over the Lynn Fighting Knights, 71-70.

“I thought she was dominant tonight,” said head coach John Reynolds of McCarthy. “They didn’t have an answer for her.”

McCarthy’s final points put the exclamation point on her big night. She recorded a double-double, with 28 points and 15 rebounds. She was also credited with two blocks and two steals.

Things did not start well for the Panthers, who were down 22-15 after the first quarter and watched Lynn start the second stanza with a 7-0 run. The Panthers were able to stay afloat though, as Lynn scored just three points in the last five minutes of the second stanza.

Despite the Fighting Knights struggles, the Panthers couldn’t make up much ground, scoring their first points with 2:48 to go in the quarter on a Michaela Gelbaugh layup. Free-throws by Gudlau Juliusdottir and McCarthy, coupled with another hoop from Gelbaugh with three seconds left, accounted for all six points the Panthers scored, before the half. The Panthers went to the locker room facing a 32-21 deficit.

“At halftime, we talked about how poorly we played in the first half,” said Reynolds. “Our performance was soft. It wasn’t what they were doing, we were just soft, but we were only down 11.”

The Panthers (10-12, 5-10 SSC) made up some ground in the third quarter, thanks to an 11-2 run early, capped by a Juliusdottir jumper, that made it a 36-35 game in favor of Lynn. The teams traded baskets for a stretch before Gelbaugh knocked down two free-throws with 2:39 left in the third, giving the Panthers their first lead, 41-40. A 5-0 run by the Fighting knights would give them a 45-41 lead and they maintain that for the final minute of the third.

Lynn 10-13, 4-11 SSC) would stretch their lead to 54-49 with 5:24 left, thanks to a three-pointer by Brekia Henderson, but the Panthers clawed their way back, taking a 55-54 lead with 2:32 left on a McCarthy jumper. Lynn would then take a 59-55 lead, before McCarthy hit a free-throw to cut it to three, with 1:21 left.

DeLise Williams, who scored 10 points on the night, hit a three with 51 seconds left, tying the game at 59. It was the first three the Panthers hit in the game. Williams would then hit free-throws to cut the lead to 62-60, with 15.7 seconds left, after Henderson was called for a flagrant one.

“She wrapped her arms around her,” Reynolds said. “She grabbed her and pulled her to the ground, you can’t do that at that time if the game.”

For an encore, she hit a layup with 13 seconds left, sending the game into the extra session, tied at 62, meaning she scored the Panthers final six points of regulation. Williams fouled out of the game and was not available for the overtime period.

Three pointer number two came at a critical juncture of overtime for the Panthers, trailing 66-64 with 2:47 to go, Markeema Crawford drilled it and gave the Panthers a 67-66 lead. Henderson would then hit two free-throws with 1:51 to go, giving Lynn the 68-67 lead.

McCarthy then got inside on the Panthers next possession and the Panthers took a 69-68 lead, with 1:34 to go. Lynn answered with 24 seconds left, going up by one, before McCarthy hit what proved to be the game-winner. Henderson did get one last shot off and Lynn was looking for a foul, but it wasn’t to be and the Panthers celebrated a hard-earned victory at the Clemente Center.

“That’s probably the best team win we’ve had all year,” said Reynolds. “I think down the stretch in regulation and down the stretch in overtime, we were the better defensive team. That whole second half, we followed the defensive scouting report almost to a tee. Defensively, that was one hell of a team effort.”

For more info: Lynn @ Florida Tech Box Score

The Panthers will hit the road Saturday for a 5:00 p.m. game at Embry-Riddle. The game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

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