TAMPA, Fla. – Twenty-fourth ranked Lee University outscored Lynn University 34-25 in the second half to pull away for a 63-52 win in the opening round of the 2022-23 NCAA Tournament South Regional, Friday evening. The Fighting Knights had their magical season come to a close with a 23-9 overall record.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Flames opened up a narrow 29-27 lead at halftime
- Lee made 12 baskets in the second half with five three-pointers that proved to be the difference
- The Fighting Knights finished 19-of-49 (38.8%) from the floor, 6-of-20 (30.0%) from three-point range and 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the foul line
- Lynn grabbed a four-point cushion, 8-4, just past the midway point of the opening quarter when graduate student
Jada Marone hit a jumper
- The Flames rebounded for their own four-point lead, 13-9, late in the first before carrying an 18-16 lead into the second
- Lee tried to pull away in the second by grabbing a six-point lead, 22-16, at 8:24
- Lynn responded with an 11-1 run that handed it the lead at 27-24 with 2:54 left in the half
- Sophomore
Makayla Hemingway started the run with a layup at 7:44, Marone hit a three at 7:02 and Hemingway later hit a free throw to set the score at 27-24
- The Flames' Haylee Johnson closed the half with a jumper for a 29-27 advantage at intermission
- Marone opened the third quarter with a three for a 30-29 lead for Lynn, its final of the ballgame
- Lee slowly increased its lead to 46-38 with a jumper at 2:22 and carried that lead into the break
- Graduate student
Meghan Cramb hit a jumper with 9:14 showing in the fourth and Hemingway hit a three-pointer at 8:28 as the Fighting Knights trimmed their deficit to 49-43
- The Flames responded with a three of their own and another three-pointer with just under four minutes to go extended their lead to over 10
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Marone led Lynn with 24 points and eight rebounds
- She also knocked down four three-pointers
- Sophomore
Ella Fiore finished with nine points and seven boards
- Hemingway totaled seven points and four rebounds
