BOCA RATON, Fla. – Putting on a nearly flawless shooting performance, Chelsea Patterson drained a jumper with two seconds remaining to give Lynn University's women's basketball team a 63-61 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic. Patterson led all scorers with 24 points, her second consecutive 20+ point effort and third overall this season, on 9-of-11 shooting from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 effort from the free-throw line. The Fighting Knights improve their record to 2-3 overall.
Leading 61-58 with 22 ticks on the clock, Hayley Fields had PBA (1-4) thinking overtime with a three-pointer from the top of the arc to tie the game. But LU had different ideas. Patterson waved on her teammates to clear the paint, driving towards the basket until a pair of Sailfish bodies occupied her space. She took one step back from her defender and got a shot off over the hands of Lynsey Poole, burying the jumper for the game-winning shot.
This match-up saw the game tied eight times with another 15 lead changes. Lynn shot a season-high 47.7% from the field and while forcing 24 turnovers, five of which came from Quanisha Dixon.
Palm Beach Atlantic held a 34-30 lead at the half, overcoming a pair of six-point deficits. The last came with the Blue & White ahead 24-18. Fields knocked down a pair of three-point shots and Selethia Jackson hit a baseline jumper as the Sailfish went ahead 27-26. Marquis Lee hit a three of her own but PBA went ahead into the locker room following a trey by Poole.
Lynn battled back from its own six-point disadvantage minutes into the second period with Amanda Schultz and Marquis Lee leading the charge with five points between them. Patterson then got a quick pass from Lee underneath the basket to put LU back on top.
Lee was second on the team with 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. She also chipped in a career-high five assists while Dixon also had a personal-best six dimes.
Lynn gets a week rest before returning to the hardwood on Saturday, December 4, at 2 p.m. when it hosts 2010 NCAA Tournament team Benedict College. Fans can follow the action live by logging on to www.LynnFightingKnights.com and selecting "Game Central."
