BY JOEL SELLERS

FAULKNER SPORTS NETWORK

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner rode a huge offensive performance, including a barrage of 3-pointers, to a 75-67 defeat of William Carey at Tine Davis Gymnasium Saturday. Six of the Lady Eagles' field goals in the first quarter were from 3-point range, including a trio of them by Micala Fisanick (SO/Troy, Ala.). Meanwhile, William Carey's Danyelle Lewis hit all three of her team's shot from beyond the arc in the quarter. When the period was over, Faulkner led 22-20.

However, the second quarter proved the opposite of the first, as William Carey outscored Faulkner only 10-7 in the period. Savannah Richardson hit a 3-pointer with one second left on the clock to give the visiting Lady Crusaders a 30-29 lead at halftime.

Coach Reed Sutton attributed the lackluster showing in the quarter to fatigue, with the team playing four games in the last week.

"We were trying to play our bench a little bit more in the first half to save some guys, so just maybe a little bit of chemistry and a little bit of fatigue," he added. "But, you know, with a will to win always beats fatigue."

 In the first part of the third quarter, the teams mostly traded baskets, but three consecutive Channing Gafford (JR/Athens, Ala.) threes gave Faulkner a 49-43 lead with 3:14 left in the period, a lead it would not relinquish. The Eagles also drew assistance from William Carey missing eight of 10 free throw attempts in the frame. The Eagles began the final stanza with a bang as Kayla Harbin (SR/Hartselle, Ala.)'s 3-point attempt bounced off the rim and into the basket. Fisanick and Gafford each hit a triple of their own in the next three minutes. Angela Grant (SO/Hoover, Ala.) had three clutch baskets in the quarter, and free throws by Fisanick and Harbin helped to put the game away.  

Faulkner connected on 46 percent of their field goal attempts, compared to 38.1 percent on field goal attempts for William Carey. The Eagles were also successful on 69.6 percent of free throw attempts, while the visitors had only a 42.9 percent success rate on free throws. Faulkner lost the rebounding battle 44 -34. Gafford finished the game with 22 points, with five of her seven field goals from beyond the arc, as well as eight rebounds. Fisanick had 15 points while Grant had six rebounds, three blocks and two steals to go with her 16 points. Ashlyn Adkins (JR/Locust Fork, Ala.) registered eight points, three rebounds, , two steals and four assists. Harbin notched five points and three rebounds while dishing out seven assists. Valentina Klocker (SO/Salzburg, Austria) also made her presence felt as she grabbed five rebounds.  

The Lady Eagles are now 12-5 with the win, and 2-1 in SSAC play. Their next five games are on the road, starting with a Jan. 9 contest at Brewton-Parker.