However, the Lady Cats were not able to push their way over the top as the Lady Titans claimed the championship and the region’s lone national tournament bid with a 64-58 win in Warner-Robins.
After sweeping the regular season series with Middle Georgia Tech (10-19, 4-4), the Lady Cats found it hard to beat the same team three times in a season.
The note of interest from the title game for the Lady Cats was the fouling out of sophomore Odessa Person. Before fouling out just inside the four-minute mark, the nation’s eighth-leading rebounder pulled down 13 rebounds, drop in nine points, and swipe three balls in the effort.
“It was an incredibly physical game today and they just let these teams play,” said Georgia Northwestern’s head women’s basketball coach Jim Williams. “Odessa and this entire team simply played their hearts out. She has an incredible shot to play at a four-year program next year.”
With 2:25 remaining, Georgia Northwestern’s team effort cut the deficit to two, 59-57. However, three trips down the court and three missed shots later and the Lady Cats ended end the game fouling for shots at the ball.
A note to watch will be an injury to freshman post player Terika Mostella who went down in a chase for a loose ball late in the game.
A hard fall on her left knee left the first-year Lady Cat on the hardwood for several minutes as specialists tended to the injury. Early reports are that she suffered a severe strain of ligaments in her left knee. “It’s the same knee she hurt badly in high school,” said Williams.
Middle Georgia Tech’s NJCAA Region XVII two-time Player of the Year Ashley West led her Lady Titans with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists.
The 5-foot-8 forward from Perry, Georgia played all forty minutes of the championship. Middle Georgia forward Tynisha Walton made her presence felt with 13 points and 23 rebounds on the day.
Georgia Northwestern was led by freshmen Kiarra Parks, Sierra Smith and Alyssa Nichelson with 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively.
The Lady Cats expect to return six from this year’s roster. Leading all scorers in the title bout was sophomore Lady Titan Kameelah Wynn with 19 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the 3-point line.
“This team is returning a lot of talented freshmen next season,” said Williams. “We are returning most of our starters and a ton of subs. Ones have come through for us in the clutch all season long. We are looking forward to what next season will bring.”
The final games for Cole and Person, though, are bittersweet. They’ve been vital to our success this year.”
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