MONTGOMERY, Ala. - With Faulkner clamping down on national scoring leader Ali Zieverink, 11th-ranked Shawnee State looked to guard Abby Fuechter here Monday afternoon. And the sharpshooter responded, scoring all but one of her 19 points in the second half as the Bears shot down the Lady Eagles' upset bid with a 79-72 victory in the opening game of the Auburn Montgomery Holiday Classic at the Physical Education Complex.

With the All-American Zieverink struggling from the field - she was held nine points below her season average of 26 - Fuechter stepped up in the final three minutes of the game. After the Lady Eagles' Faith LeGate scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to erase a 10-point deficit, it was the 5-7 senior who turned the tide. With the game tied at 65 on a LeGate putback with 3:16 left, Fuechter connected on long 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions and Faulkner never got closer than four the rest of the way.

Ashton Lovely added 16 points and Madison Ridout 10 for the Bears, who improved to 13-2 on the season. Zieverink, who also leads the nation in field-goal percentage at 65 percent, made just 40 percent of her attempts Monday and finished with 19 points. The Faulkner defense was excellent inside, frustrating the senior forward for much of the afternoon.

"We didn't let the All-American beat us, and that was our plan," Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton said. "We wanted to make somebody else beat us, and they did, so give them credit. I was excited with the effort and confidence we played with today. Shawnee State has a great team, one that is capable of competing for a national championship, and we were right there. 

"We'll see how we respond tomorrow, but I feel like our team will take something positive out of this game."

LeGate was excellent on both ends of the floor, scoring 23 points and grabbing 12 rebounds - nine of which came on the defensive glass. Olivia Adamson also had a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. China Leary added 10 points for the Lady Eagles, who fell to 4-7.

"Despite the loss, this was probably the most complete game we've played in awhile," Sutton said. "The schedule we're playing, which is one of toughest in the country, is starting to pay dividends. Hopefully we will continue to improve."

Neither team led by more than six points in the opening two quarters. LeGate had six points in the first quarter to help the Lady Eagles' grab a six-point lead after the first, but Zieverink heated up in the second to bring the Bears back. Seven of her 11 first-half points came in the second quarter as Shawnee State grabbed a four-point advantage late in the half. Faulkner scored the final four points of the period, sending the teams to the locker room in a 38-all tie.

Faulkner plays Brescia Tuesday at noon on the final day of the AUM Holiday Classic.