Highlights

Campus News

Wildcat Weekly Minute for Nov. 17, 2011

A look at what's happening on campus this week.

Faith

Cleansed through the Cross

Dr. Quarles speaks on the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice at weekly chapel

Sports

LC hoops teams wrap up homestand with pair of wins

Off to Ozarks, UT-Dallas next

Organizations

LC media student give to Toys for Tots

More than 100 toys will help local charity

Campus Life

February is Heart Health Awareness Month

Stay healthy and 'God Red'

Culture

All the Shakespeare you could laugh at… and more!

tlc's adaptation of 'Shakespeare Abridged' pulls out all the stops

Special Coverage

LC brings another successful ‘Follow the Star’

'Christmas on the Hill' and 'Gala' add to festive weekend

LC Women upset #6 Howard Payne (VIDEO)

by Al Quartemont

End 2009 portion of schedule with huge win

It was the kind of win the Lady Wildcats have been working toward ever since coach Janice Joseph Richard took over three years ago. Call it a statement game, call it what you will - LC proved that it deserves, at the very least, to be considered among to top teams in Division III. That, after the Lady Cats stopped #6 Howarrd Payne, 69-54, Saturday before an excited crowd at H.O. West Field House.

"This is huge for our program," Richard said after the win. "The girls were all excited, (the coaches) are excited. It told them it was a wonderful Christmas gift for me."

To make the win happen, the Wildcats, who built a 31-24 lead at the half, had to survive the Lady Yellow Jackets' run in the 2nd half. Howard Payne came out hot, using a 12-2 run to turn the 7-point deficit into a 3 point lead. Following an LC timeout, junior guard Christy Pantallion quickly got the lead back for the Lady Cats, hitting two big shots - part of her 22-point game.

"Christy was a great leader," Richard said. "I told her at halftime, 'I need you to take over this game,' and that's what she did."

LC also had great success with its inside game. Freshman Voneshia Williams scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

After holding a 10-point lead for much of the 2nd half, LC saw Howard Payne make one final push - cutting the Lady Cats' lead to 59-54 with 2:50 left in the game. But consistent with LC's fortune on this day, Junior Briana Lewis hit a huge 3-point shot as the shot clock was running out. The Lady Wildcats never looked back from there, pulling away with a 10-0 run to close the game.

With the win, LC improves to 8-1 on the season, 4-1 in the American Southwest Conference. Their next game won't be until Jan. 2, when LC travels to Marshall, Texas to face Wiley.

"This win gives us all the confidence in the world," Richard said. "We set a goal at the beginning of the year to win a conference championship. Beating both Howard Payne and Hardin Simmons - both of whom are in the Top 25 - show us we can beat anybody we play against this year. If we can build on this one, I think it's going to be good."

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