Box Score BOCA RATON, Fla.- Lynn University's women's basketball team ended 2014 on a high note with a 71-55 win over local rival Palm Beach Atlantic on Wednesday afternoon. The Fighting Knights were led by Sharneka McCatty who had a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds. Charla Nelson-James recorded her second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 12 boards, all in the second half while Shay Harris had a season best 15 points and five assists. Lynn improves to 5-4 overall and while PBA falls to 5-9 overall.
The Sailfish took a quick 6-0 lead but Zachara Bailey hit a three pointer to cut the Fighting Knights' deficit in half, 6-3. Palm Beach Atlantic led by as many as 14 and held a 10-point cushion for the final ten minutes of the half. Lynn ended the frame on a 7-2 run to trail by nine, 29-20, at the break.
McCatty led all scorers with 11 points in the opening half. Palm Beach Atlantic shot 44.4 percent from the field and held the Blue & White to 21.9 percent from the field. Lynn was out-rebounded 26-14 but held and advantage as PBA had 13 turnovers while Lynn had seven.
Lynn came out renewed in the second half slowly chipping away at the Sailfish lead. A trey by Harris brought the score within five, 33-28, with 15:50 remaining in the game. Every time Palm Beach Atlantic would try to pull away, the Fighting Knights responded keeping it a two-possession game. A layup by Nelson-James at14:10 closed the gap to three but Nina Krstic answered with a three-pointer from the corner. Nelson-James hit a jumper at 10:50 to knot the score 40-all.
LaKendra Jones made a pair of free throws to give Lynn its first lead of the game, 46-44, at the eight minute mark. The Fighting Knights led by seven when McCatty drained two foul shots. Harris hit her second trey to continue the Blue & White's 10-1 run with under seven minutes to play. Lynn continued to pull ahead and led by as many as 16 points. The Fighting Knights held that lead until the final buzzer to defeat the Sailfish, 71-55.
The Blue & White made 21-of-24 free throws in the half while improving its shooting to 50 percent from the field. Lynn held PBA to 25.9 percent from the field and 11.1 percent from behind the arc. Additionally, the Fighting Knights held a 26-11 advantage in rebounds and scored 38 of its second half points from the bench.
Nkiru Anyagaligbo and Natalie Wood each had a team-best 10 points for Palm Beach Atlantic and Anyagalibo was a rebound shy of a double-double, with nine boards. Harris' five assists were a game-high in her best performance of the season. Overall, Lynn edged PBA 40-37 in boards and had seven less turnovers than the Sailfish.
Lynn will hit the road for the true beginning of Sunshine State Conference play on Saturday, January 3, when the Fighting Knights take on the 10th-ranked Spartans of Tampa. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm. Fans can follow the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com. Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook and follow @Lynn_Knights on Twitter and Instagram.
