PULASKI, Tenn. – The Lady Crusaders rallied in the third and fourth quarters, overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit to secure a 75-67 victory over UT-Southern on Thursday night.
 
"Glory to God we got a tough, tough road win against a very good basketball team," said Head Coach Jessica Garriga. "They had us down 9 at one point and at halftime we talked about committing to doing the hard things that was necessary to turn it around. These ladies are gritty and it's a testament to the work they put in every day."
 
Brooklyn Cuevas started the scoring with a three-pointer, and after a steal by Shaneal Corpuz led to a layup from Madelyn Ladner, Carey established an early 7-2 lead. However, the Firehawks quickly erased that deficit. For the next five minutes, neither team could gain a significant advantage until UT-Southern went on a 9-0 run, taking a 24-15 lead before closing the first quarter at 26-21.
 
In the second quarter, Carey responded with back-to-back baskets from Meyah Doyle and Corpuz, narrowing the gap to just one point. By the midway point, a jumper from Ladner tied the game at 31. UT-Southern answered with a three-pointer by Taya Totten, allowing them to regain the lead as both teams continued trading baskets. The Firehawks then pulled away with a 7-0 run, ending the half ahead 43-36.
 
The third quarter mirrored the second, with the Lady Crusaders again closing in, making it 43-41 after another three from Cuevas. The teams exchanged baskets, and with three minutes left, UT-Southern led 52-46. However, Carey's offense clicked into gear.
 
Three consecutive baskets from Ladner and Bailey Devall tied the game, culminating in a layup from Devall just as the quarter expired, giving WCU a slim 57-55 lead heading into the final quarter. During this stretch, the Lady Crusaders outshot the Firehawks 46% to 28% while limiting their opponents to just four field goals.
 
WCU carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, opening with four straight points. A three-pointer from Jenna Garriga stretched the Carey lead to 66-56 with seven minutes remaining. From there, the Lady Crusaders maintained control, pulling away to their largest lead of the game at 74-61 on a three by Alyssa Hillard with just over three minutes left, securing the victory.
 
Shaneal Corpuz led the offense with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Madelyn Ladner contributed 15 points, and Brooklyn Cuevas finished with 13 points.
 
WCU will return to action on Saturday, December 6, heading to Blue Mountain, Miss., to face Blue Mountain Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:00 PM.