February 16, 2017 courtesy of Lane College Office of Athletics
In the last four seasons, the Lane Lady Dragons have seen an epic turnaround of the
women’s basketball program, mainly thanks to have nine seniors this season on the
squad.
Those nine seniors would not be denied Thursday evening on senior night on Lane’s
campus as they erased a five-point halftime deficit to knock off conference foe Kentucky
State University, 60-47.
Heading into the fourth period, the Lady Dragons were leading 43-38 but used a strong
defensive effort to outscore the Thorobreds 17-9 over the final ten minutes to seal the
win.
Head coach Kimberly Anderson said she told her players through out the game, who
after making the first basket of the game, trailed until junior guard Addie McNeely hit a
three-pointer with 3:22 left in the third period to give Lane a 36-34 lead. They would not
relinquish that lead.
“I always told them a disciplined team is a winning team,” Anderson said.
McNeely led all scorers with 25 points. Senior guard LaTrice Ragland chipped in 11
points, all coming in the second half.
On the glass, senior guards Kyana Johnson and Tashara Jones both pulled down six
boards.
After shooting just under 30 percent in the first half, the Lady Dragons got hot in the
second period, shooting over 48 percent in the final 20 minutes.
Anderson said of her nine seniors, she is most proud of the progression they made
during their time at Lane.
“To just see them develop from Day 1 to where we are now,” she said. “I’m just so proud
of them.”
“Because right now they are just a good group of young ladies that have the heart to
win.”
When asked if she thought this group of women has helped revitalize the women’s
basketball program at Lane, Anderson’s answer was simple.
“Absolutely. Absolutely.”
The Lane Dragon men’s basketball team, just like the women, wanted to pick up a win
in their last home game on Lane’s campus and did so in a resounding fashion 79-68
over visiting Kentucky State.
The Dragons put up 37 points in the first half with 30 of those points coming from just
three players, two of which were playing their last home game. Seniors Devontay Clark
and Terrance Bridgeman along with sophomore Kendarius Ash headed into the break
with ten points apiece.
Clark finished with a team-high 20 points, Bridgeman and Ash finished with 15 points.
Ash pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds.
Lane head coach Bryanth Basemore said after picking up a win over Kentucky State
University on the road in Frankfort, Ky. on January 30, he knew that Thursday night’s
rematch between the conference opponents would be a physical contest.
“I watched two teams tonight compete really hard,” Basemore said. “We had a dogfight
up at Kentucky State a few weeks ago and we knew coming here tonight that it was
going to be the same type of atmosphere and the same type of dogfight.
“I’ve got to take my hat off to that Kentucky State bunch. They’re well coached and they
played us real hard tonight.
As for his four seniors, Basemore said watching them compete at home for the last time
was “a little bittersweet.”
“I’m happy we won the game and I’m also sad to see them run out of the tunnel for the
last time here on senior night,” Basemore said. “That’s painful as a coach but that’s part
of the job.
“You have to love them up while they are here and then you have to appreciate them
when they are gone but I am so proud of them.”
The Lady Dragons will face Philander Smith College on Monday night. Both the men’s
and women’s teams will travel to Mobile, Ala. to face Spring Hill College in their final
games of the regular season.
#GoDragons!#