SPORTS

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Justine Lyon scored a game-high 22 points, including the 1,000th of her career, and Davidson shot a season-best 47.2 percent from the floor in helping give the senior class one last home victory with a 69-63 decision over VCU Saturday afternoon in Atlantic 10 women’s basketball inside John M. Belk Arena.

The Wildcats capped off the regular season with their second straight win to move to 12-17 overall, doubling last year’s win total, while finishing 7-9 in league play. They will play at Richmond next Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. in the first round of the A-10 Championship.

Playing their final home game was seniors Mackenzie Latt (eight points, six rebounds, three steals), Saadia Timpton and Chloe Johnson, who were each honored prior to the game. Timpton assisted the ‘Cats in tying a season best with 10 three-pointers by hitting a career-best three of her own and finished with a career-best tying 10 points.

Justine Lyon became the program’s 20th player to reach the 1,000-point mark for a career when she swished home her first basket, a three-pointer, in the first quarter. The junior went on to hit 8-of-17 shots, including 3-of-5 from downtown.

Katie Turner, who had 14 points and six assists, also made three triples, getting all of them in third quarter when Davidson turned a 32-31 halftime deficit into a 47-38 lead by opening the quarter on a 16-6 run.

The lead would grow to 11 points in the fourth quarter (60-49) after Timpton hit her third three-pointer before the Wildcats had to hold off the Rams in the closing minute. VCU went on a 14-6 run to get within 66-63 and 1:19 to go. After a missed Lyon layup, the Rams called a timeout to advance the ball, but Davidson’s defense stepped up and got a inbounds steal from Turner out of the break.

Turner and Ally Welling (career-high nine rebounds) sealed the win by going a combined 3-for-4 at the charity stripe in the last 15 seconds.

VCU (7-21, 4-12 A-10) had two reach double figures, led by Taya Robinson’s 21 points. Tera Reed finished with 17.

The first quarter saw Davidson race out to a 14-7 lead, but VCU used an 11-2 run to close the quarter for an 18-16 advantage. The Rams pushed its lead to 27-18 in the second quarter in a 9-0 spurt, but the ‘Cats came right back with a 13-3 run before closing the quarter down just one, 32-31.

Davidson finished the game 25-for-53 from the field, including 10-of-17 from behind the arc. It also had a 32-30 edge on the glass, but gave up 24 points off 22 turnovers. Led by Lyon’s 22 points, the Wildcats had a season-best 33 points from its bench.

GAME NOTES: This was the sixth meeting all-time between both teams … Davidson is now 2-4 in the series, stopping a two-game skid … Justine Lyon‘s 20-point outing was her fourth of the season and the 13th of her career … Mackenzie Latt moved into second all-time in rebounds … Katie Turner‘s three triples give her 72 on the season, second-most in a Wildcat single season, and just two away from tying the record … Turner is riding a 10-game streak of scoring in double figures … the seven A-10 wins is the most for the ‘Cats since joining the league in 2014-15, while its ninth place finish is also their best.