ALEXANDRIA, LA – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria women's basketball fell in the Red River Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament Final to LSU Shreveport, 54-51.
 
A three from Dannah Martin-Hartwick with just 18.2 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 51-51. But a three-point play from LSUS (27-3, 23-1 RRAC) gave the Pilots the victory over the Generals (23-8, 18-6 RRAC).
 
LSUA's offense struggled to get going, recording just 15 points over the first two quarters. Defensively, the Generals held LSUS to 11 points in each of the first two periods. LSUA held the Pilots to a shooting percentage of 31.3 , including a mark of 21.43% and 25% in the first two quarters.
 
"Even though our offensive production wasn't there, our defensive production was," LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. "I'm very proud of the defensive effort."
 
 
The Pilots led for the majority of the contest, including a game-high eight-point lead in the final minutes of the second quarter. The Generals kept close on their heels, keeping the game within reach.
 
In the third quarter, a jumper from Amani Gray knotted the game at 27-27 before a 5-0 run from the Pilots on their next two possessions put them back ahead by five. Gray made another layup, bringing the differential back to one possession.
 
After another jumper from the Pilots, a jumper and a pair of free throws from Martin-Hartwick cut the deficit to one, 34-33. LSUS closed the quarter on a 7-2 run for a 41-34 lead.
 
Jumpers from Alexis Dyer and Benedetta Peracchi, along with a free throw from Justice Young, brought LSUA back within one just two minutes into the fourth. The Pilots' lead hung under five until a three with 1:17 left in regulation brought the score to 51-46.
 
Jewel Jones knocked down a pair of free throws to pull within three and on the next possession, Martin-Hartwick drained her game-tying trey.
 
The Pilots drove the lane on their next possession, picking up a three-point play with under 10 seconds to play. A last second shot from the Generals didn't fall as the Pilots clung to their 54-51 lead.
 
"I'm proud of them," Perkins said of his team. "They wanted it so bad. Three games in three days is tough. I'm proud of their effort and commitment to what we do."

Jones led the Generals with 18 points, while Young recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.