LEWISTON, Idaho – Call them road warriors.
Bailey Snelling hit a 12-footer at the buzzer to lift the No. 21 Carroll College women's basketball team to a 60-58 victory over No. 13 Lewis-Clark State for its fifth-straight road win.
The Saints led 30-27 at the half and came out hot after the break with a 16-5 run to build a 46-34, the largest lead of the game, with 12:30 left in the game.
The Warriors then went to a full court press which led to a run of their own. LC State tied the game with just eight seconds remaining at 58 on a bucket in the paint by McKenzie Heaslet.
Without calling a timeout, Snelling advanced the ball and got into the key for a jumper at the buzzer. It fell and gave Carroll the 60-58 win.
"It was an unbelievable finish," head coach
Rachelle Sayers said. "The kids played so hard and were so committed to rebounding and tonight it won us the game.
Baylee Watson played her best game as a Saint, and then you have
Kalee Junkermier just shooting with such confidence, she was huge for us. But in the end, Snelling hits a huge 3 and then has the presence of mind to know she has time to go the length of the floor. No way I was calling a timeout, the ball was in the hands of our leader and she lead us to a huge win tonight. I couldn't be more proud."
Junkermier led the Saints with 22 points, Watson scored a career-high 16 and Snelling added 10 with her game winner.
The Saints struggled with rebounding in the previous two games but outrebounded the Warriors 37-31.
A big factor in the rebounding margin was the return of
Jordan Johnston, she tied with
Cassidy Hashley for the team-high in rebounds with seven after missing the last two games with a sore back.
"Having Jordan back was huge tonight," Sayers said. "Jordi gives us that toughness factor. She came in and gave us seven huge rebounds. We are so happy to have her back."
The Saints move to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in Frontier play. Lewis Clark falls to 16-4 and 2-2.
Carroll closes out their road trip Saturday in Butte against Montana Tech. The Orediggers are 8-11 and 0-4 in conference after falling to Rocky Mountain 64-48.
The game tips off at 5:30 and will be broadcast on 94.9 ESPN Montana Radio in Helena.
