By JOEL SELLERS

FAULKNER SPORTS NETWORK

MONTGOMERY, Ala. –The Faulkner Lady Eagles used a late rally and scoring outburst to come from behind, force overtime and prevail 84-78 over the Florida College Falcons at Tine Davis Gymnasium Saturday. With 8:46 remaining in regulation, Faulkner trailed 58-45, the largest lead by either team in the contest. However, after Channing Gafford (JR/Athens, Ala.) got a rebound off her own miss and made a bucket, the Lady Eagles made six of their next seven field goal attempts including four from 3-point range. The run staked Faulkner to a 68-65 lead, its first of the half, with 2:44 left in regulation.

At the 1:30 mark, after Florida College took a one-point lead, Micala Fisanick (SO/Troy, Ala.) responded with another 3-pointer, but Rylee Everett reclaimed the advantage for the visitors with a three of her own. A free throw by Kayla Harbin (SR/Hartselle, Ala.) sent the game into overtime with the score tied at 72. After the home team claimed a 76-74 advantage with two free throws, Florida College retook the lead once again on a 3-pointer by Audre' Anna Judie. After a Judie free throw, the Lady Eagles responded immediately when Ashlyn Adkins (JR/Locust Fork, Ala.) passed the ball to an unguarded Harbin for an easy layup that tied the score. Valentina Klocker (SO/Salzburg, Austria) then made two consecutive baskets that gave her team the lead for good.

The first was another wide-open layup that came after a defensive rebound and assist by Gafford and the second came after Kinlee Varnell of Florida College threw the ball out of bounds underneath her basket. Two missed free throws by Kaylee Hinson with nine seconds left ultimately put the game out of reach.

"It was just so exciting because they're fighting. You know, the last three games we've lost here at home, you know, it's not because we're not trying. It's not because we're not fighting. It's not because of the culture of our program," Faulkner Head Coach Reed Sutton said. "It's just, every game in the conference is going to be close and we're trying to redefine how we play. And so for me, it was really exciting to see that fourth quarter and just to see the players on the floor, the players on the bench just dig in. You know, just fight. And that's Faulkner basketball. And I'm just so grateful that I have a locker room full of girls who just dig in when it's tough."

Fisanick paced Faulkner with a career high 21 points and eight rebounds. Adkins had 20 points, three blocks, two steals and five assists. Gafford tallied 19 points and two assists along with her five boards while Olivia Colson (SO/Thompson's Station, Tenn.) registered 10 points and five rebounds. Harbin added eight points, seven rebounds and two assists.

Judie led the Falcons with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. Varnell was not far behind with 15 points, eight boards and nine assists. Kaylee Hinson had 12 points, nine boards, two blocks and three assists.

The Lady Eagles snap a four-game skid with the victory, improving to 15-11 overall and 5-7 in conference play. Faulkner's next game is Feb. 15 against Middle Georgia State, the last of five straight home games.