Friday, November 25, 2011

Collins' 3-pointer gives Dillard its first victory of season

NEW ORLEANS — Reserve guard Brianne Collins' 3-pointer with five seconds remaining Thursday lifted Dillard to a 77-76 overtime women's basketball victory against Rust in the opening game of the Xavier Classic.

The Lady Bleu Devils (1-2) outscored Rust 6-1 in the final 67 seconds after Rust took its biggest lead, 75-71, on an Al'Lisha Hudson basket.

Jasmine Bradley preserved the victory by stealing Kala Williams' pass near midcourt on the final play.

Ariel Mitchell scored 14 points, Jazzmin Smith 13 and Lauren Daniel 10 for Dillard, which never trailed in regulation. Collins finished with a season-high seven points, and the 3-pointer was just her second in 12 attempts this season.

Williams scored 18 points, Jessica Brown 17 and Hudson 13 for Rust (2-5), an NCAA Division III member. Dillard is an NAIA member.

Daniel's free throw at 2:29 of the first half gave Dillard its biggest lead, 32-18. The Lady Bleu Devils led 35-24 at halftime and 54-43 with 8:58 remaining in regulation. Rust forced overtime when Hudson's basket tied the score at 63 with nine seconds remaining. Another Hudson basket at 3:49 in overtime gave the Lady Bearcats their first lead, 67-66.

Rust outshot Dillard 50 to 34.7 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Bleu Devils 48-43. Dillard outscored Rust 23-10 in free throws.

On Friday Rust will play Mobile at noon, and Dillard will play NAIA No. 19 Langston at 4 p.m.

By Ed Cassiere,Sports Information Director

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