Hawks Top LaGrange on the Road

LaGrange, Georgia – The Hawks (6-13 overall, 5-6 in the CCS) beat LaGrange (14-5 overall, 8-2 in the CCS) on the road for the first time since the 2018-2019 season and extend their winning streak to three with a final score of 59-56. Huntingdon has now knocked off two of the top three teams in the league, both on the road, first against #3 Piedmont in their overtime win and tonight against #2 LaGrange.

In a close fought game the Hawks took the early lead with an 8-0 run by pairs of layups from both Alina Shoemake and Kinstin Davis. LaGrange began to pick up the pace and bring the game within two points with 4:48 remaining in the first (12-10). More back-to-back points by Shoemake, who had 8 in the first quarter, lifted Huntingdon to 16-12 going into the second. Heading into the second, neither team would be able to land a bucket for the first two minutes. LaGrange ended the drought and quickly went on a 11-4 run that gave them the three-point lead with 3 minutes left in the half (23-20). Another scoring drought began, but after two minutes, leading scorer AB Davis was able to cut the game to two. Those two points were followed by a 4-0 run from the Panthers to take the 29-27 lead at the half.

Key First Half Stats:

Alina Shoemake scored her 12 points in two quarters

Neither team was able to land a three

Hawks were out rebounded 26-17

The first four and a half minutes of the second half, the Hawks were scoreless as the Panthers scored 6 to extend their lead to the largest of the night (35-27). A layup by Kinstin Davis sparked the Hawks as AB Davis nailed a three that was followed by another made three from freshman Erica Rodriguez (37-35). Some traded baskets left the Hawks down three with a minute to go, but Rodriguez stepped up to splash another three to tie the game. The Panthers were able to score in the last three seconds to regain the lead before heading to the fourth quarter (43-41). Rodriguez remained hot as she made her final three of the night and scored the first points of the fourth quarter to put the Hawks back on top (44-43). The exchange of the next few points led to a Panther 6-0 run with 4:51 remaining (52-46). Paige Huff's timeout following the run gave Huntingdon their first points since 7 minutes on the clock. Briana McGruder delivered three key layups in the next three possessions to take the two-point lead with 30 seconds left. The Panthers were forced to foul the Hawks who only shot 38% from the free-throw line for the night but senior, AB Davis rose to the occasion to knock down two and secure the four-point lead with 18 seconds. Kinstin Davis grabbed a quick steal to ensure LaGrange would not be able to get a shot off. K. Davis was fouled and converted one. Panthers were able to make it back to the free-throw line at the end of the game to make two but time would run out as the Hawks defeated LaGrange.

Key Game Stats:

Briana McGruder added 8 points in the fourth quarter, all with under 3 minutes left

Hawks shot 40% from the field compared to the Panthers 32%

Huntingdon converted 21 points off of LaGrange's 17 turnovers

Stat Leaders for Huntingdon:

#15 AB Davis – 16 Points, 8 Rebounds

#35 Briana McGruder – 13 Points, 5 Rebounds

#23 Alina Shoemake – 12 Points, 5 Rebounds

The Hawks return home for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday as they take on Berea College February 3^rd at 5:00 PM CST and Maryville College on February 4^th at 2:00 PM CST.