Holmes, Willis Lead Lady Pirates To 76-71 Win At GSW

AMERICUS, Ga. - Senior guard Lindsey Holmes hit a career-high seven first-half three-pointers en route to 23 points, and senior Lacey Willis chipped in 20 points as the Armstrong Atlantic State women's basketball squad halted its four-game slide with a 76-71 win at Georgia Southwestern State on Wednesday evening.

The Lady Pirates (12-8, 7-6 PBC) won for just the second time in its last eight games, while Georgia Southwestern State (6-14, 1-12 PBC) lost its second straight contest. AASU swept the season series from the Lady Hurricanes after taking a 78-60 win over GSW on January 7 in Savannah.

Holmes started out on fire from beyond the arc, hitting seven of her first eight attempts in the first 13 minutes of the game to help AASU build an early 25-12 lead. That opened things up for Willis, who hit 8-of-16 shots from the floor and all four of her free throw attempts for 20 points.

AASU would maintain a double digit lead throughout most of the contest until the last three minutes, when Georgia Southwestern used a 7-0 run to turn a 72-62 Lady Pirate lead into a one-possession contest, 72-69, with 55 seconds remaining. Willis and Holmes each converted two free throws in the final 10 seconds, however, to clinch the victory.

Holmes' 23 points bested her previous career high of 19 points, set at GCSU on January 19, 2008, and her seven three pointers eclipse her previous high of six threes, set twice previously. Willis, meanwhile, has hit 20 or more points four times this season and this was her first 20+ point game since December 4 and her game-high 12 rebounds gives her five double-doubles on the season.

Kelly Versluis added 12 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots - bringing her career total to 81, leaving her just three shy of the all-time blocked shots record at AASU (84).

Georgia Southwestern was led by Nadirah Gardner's 19 points off the bench, while Brandi Burris chipped in 18 points and Brittany Reynolds added 14.

AASU enjoyed a 41-26 rebounding edge in the contest - after having been outrebounded by the Lady Hurricanes by 23 in the earlier matchup this season.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Saturday, February 7, with a 5:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest against UNC Pembroke at Alumni Arena.