AVE MARIA, Fla. – Benedetta Peracchi scored the last five points for the Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball team, as they hung on for a 67-65 victory over Ave Maria University.
The Generals (3-1) found themselves trailing with under five minutes to play in regulation. They outscored the Gyrenes (1-1) 10-2 in the final five minutes to surge back for the victory.
"I am very proud of how we finished the two-game road trip to Florida with a win," LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "Very proud of our effort today to get a win against a good team."
Peracchi led the Generals with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. She shot 6-for-8 from the floor and went 7-for-8 at the free throw line. Peracchi added two assists to her stat sheet as well.
Amani Gray recorded 17 points. She went 7-for-14 from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. LSUA recorded 28 points in the paint and eight steals as a unit.
The Generals' largest lead came in the second quarter, 28-19, after an 8-2 run over a span of 3:06. Jumpers from
Jewel Jones,
Dannah Martin-Hartwick, and
Blair Smith made up six of the Generals' eight points. A pair of free throws from Smith opened the run.
The Gyrenes whittled away at the lead, however, sending the game into halftime even at 37-37. Ave Maria held the advantage in the third quarter, 18-12, for a 55-49 lead heading to the final period.
Peracchi and Gray opened the final stanza with a pair of layups, but Ave Maria responded with two buckets of their own. The Generals and Gyrenes traded baskets, keeping the gap near four points, until Martin-Hartwick brought LSUA within one, 63-62, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc with 3:54 on the clock.
A trio of free throws, two to Ave Maria and one to LSUA, made it 65-63 in favor of Ave Maria with 1:33 remaining.
With just 20 seconds left on the clock, Peracchi picked up a layup to tie the game at 65-65. She was then sent to the line 18 seconds later, knocking down both of her chances to put the Generals ahead 67-65.
LSUA opens Red River Athletic Conference play at home on Tuesday, November 12, at 5:30 PM against Jarvis Christian.
