MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A gallant effort on Senior Day came up just short for Faulkner here Saturday afternoon at Tine Davis Gymnasium, with the short-handed Lady Eagles falling 75-74 to Brewton-Parker in the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season finale for both teams.

With only six varsity players eligible after suspensions came down following the Thursday night scuffle with Coastal Georgia, Faulkner actually led the game by seven points headed to the decisive fourth quarter. The Lady Barons outscored the Lady Eagles 26-13 in the first nine-plus minutes of the period, however, and took a 75-69 lead in the final minute. An Erichea Barnes' basket trimmed it to 75-71 with 26 seconds left and, after a pair of misses by Brewton-Parker from the free-throw line, Emma Herren knocked down a 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds to play. Again, the Lady Barons came up empty at the stripe and Faulkner's Kylie Moore rebounded. The senior guard raced up the floor and her 12-foot runner danced on the rim before falling away, leaving head coach Reed Sutton disappointed but extremely proud.

"We all had a great time in this game, even though we lost," said Sutton, whose team finished the regular season 13-15 overall and 9-9 in the SSAC. "Our kids had a great time playing and I had fun coaching. We had a chance at the end and I thought Kylie had made it. I'm really pleased with the effort and the energy we showed, despite having such a short bench."

Sutton pulled up Rachel Webster from the Lady Eagles' junior varsity for a little bench depth, and it appeared late in the matchup that Faulkner was running on fumes. The three senior players - Barnes, Moore and Paige Seaton - combined for 31 points and 27 rebounds in their home finale. Barnes had 13 points and seven rebounds; Moore 11 points and 12 rebounds; and Seaton seven points and eight rebounds. Faulkner was led in once again by junior forward Faith LeGate, who finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Brandy Alley joinied LeGate and Moore in the double-double club, posting 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Lady Eagles dominated the glass, outrebounding Brewton-Parker 56-34, and shot 15 more free throws then did the visitors but converted only 19-of-33 attempts.

Brewton-Parker (7-20 overall, 3-15 SSAC) was led by Latoya King, who made six 3-pointers for an 18-point night. Brianna Boggan added 17 and Lea Saunders 16 for the Lady Barons, who did not qualify for next week's SSAC Tournament. Sixth-seeded Faulkner meets third-seeded Auburn Montgomery for the third time this season Thursday night. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8.

"Our season continues next week and we're excited about that, no matter who we play," said Sutton, who will have only one of the six suspended players return for his Lady Eagles' opening game in the 10-team event.

It was Barnes' play in the first quarter and LeGate's in the second that allowed the Lady Eagles to build an lead and then increase it. Barnes knocked down three 3-pointers in the opening 10 minutes, and LeGate added two of her own in the second quarter. A 13-4 stretch enabled Faulkner to build its largest lead at 34-17 midway through the second quarter, only to see the Lady Barons trim the margin to 36-27 at the break.