MARS HILL, N.C. --- Jasmine Gunn recorded a double-double with 35 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the Tusculum College women's basketball team to a 78-76 win at Mars Hill College Wednesday night at Stanford Arena.
The Pioneers (17-9, 10-6 SAC) win their third in a row to close out the regular season and clinch to host an opening round game in next week's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. Official bracket and seeding will be announced by the league office on Sunday.
Gunn finished the night shooting 12-of-25 from the field and 11-of-13 from the free throw line. She also tallied three assists and two steals as the Pioneers complete the season sweep over the Lions (5-21, 2-13 SAC).
TC's Brittni Oliver recorded 10 markers, going 7-of-7 from the foul line, while Kendal Baxter added nine points, while Catherine Hintz finished with eight markers, nine rebounds and two blocks.
MHC was led by SAC Player of the Week Brittini Young, who tallied 25 points, including four 3-pointers to go along with eight rebounds and six assists. Margaret Harvey and Narcissa Grayson each scored 13 points in the loss.
The Pioneers led 77-70 with 52 seconds remaining in the contest, following a pair of free throws by Gunn. The Lions scored six unanswered points in a span of 28 seconds, including a three-point play by Grayson and a three-pointer by Harvey with 24.2 seconds left on the clock.
The Lions had a couple of opportunities to take the lead down the stretch as Jasmine Parker missed a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left. After a MHC timeout, the Lions looked to set up a shot to win the game, but the Lions where whistled for an offensive foul turning the ball over with 4.4 seconds left. Parker was fouled and sent to the line where she made one of two as MHC came up with the rebound, but turned the ball over on a traveling call as Tusculum held on for the win.
Both teams combined for 100 rebounds on the night with Tusculum holding a 55-45 advantage on the boards, including 21-10 on the offensive glass.
Tusculum also shined at the charity stripe shooting 80.6 percent, including 15-of-17 in the first half (88.2%).
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