Mesha Phillips’ 3-pointer from the top of the key with 15.7 seconds to go gave Southeast Community College a 48-45 victory Friday over Lake Land Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national tournament in East Peoria, Ill.
The win puts SCC into the seventh-place game at noon Saturday vs. Chesapeake College of Maryland.
The Storm, 23-6, went on a 10-1 run late in the first half to wipe out a 20-10 Lake Land lead. Kindrea Poole had a huge first half for SCC, scoring 11 points, grabbing seven rebounds, blocking two shots, and making two steals. Poole finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, and four steals.
Lake Land capped a 7-0 run to take a 45-37 lead with 5:04 to play in the game. But SCC tied it at 45-45 on a steal and layup by Phillips (45-39), a 3-pointer by Monique Stevens (45-42), another basket by Stevens (45-44), and a free throw by Poole with 2:17 to play.
Stevens had the second of her two steals with under 30 seconds to play. Poole rebounded a missed shot by Amanda Fluker, and Phillips got the ball at the top of the key and let go a 3-pointer to make it 48-45 Storm with 15.7 seconds to play. Lake Land came down and missed two shots before a tie-up with .7 seconds left.