Lady Indians hold off Lawson State to win season opener

The Lady Indians opened the season Monday night against a tough Lawson State squad, and were able to pick up a 76-70 win.

Kaelin Kneeland (23) grabs a rebound with a Lawson State defender on her back, during the first half of the Lady Indians 76-70 win Monday night. (Lee Adams/ICCImages.com)
Kaelin Kneeland (23) grabs a rebound with a Lawson State defender on her back, during the first half of the Lady Indians 76-70 win Monday night. (Lee Adams/ICCImages.com)
November 4, 2014
Photos Video Box Score

Lady Indians hold off Lawson State to win season opener
Lee Adams/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS – The Lady Indians opened the season Monday night against a tough Lawson State squad, and were able to pick up a 76-70 win.

It was a battle right from tip off in the Davis Event Center, with the Lady Indians (1-0) trailing early. Big baskets by Jeronia Allen (Minden , LA) and Lanikki McMillian (Pontotoc) pulled the Lady Indians within one point five minutes into the contest.

Over the next five minutes, the Lady Indians would put together a 14-4 run to hold a 23-14 lead midway through the first half. By halftime, Kaelin Kneeland (Olive Branch) and Treasure Evans (Horn Lake) had led the Lady Indians to a 35-27 halftime lead.

The Lady Indians led by ten points at one point in the second half, but the Lady Cougars would put together strong runs and pulled within two point with nine minutes left in the game, forcing the Lady Indians to call a timeout and regroup.

After the timeout, the Lady Indians were able to hold off the Lady Cougars to pick up the 76-70 win.

Kneeland led the Lady Indians with 18-points and picked up 10 rebounds for her first double-double. Jayla Chills (Ripley) picked up 14-points in the first game of her sophomore season and Allen added 10.

The Lady Indians will host Shelton State Thursday night as they go for their second win of the season and Coach Nanci Gray's 600th career win. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. in Fulton.

For more information on ICC women's basketball, follow the Indians on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).