Lucette's play scores victory

Paine women's coach Selina Kohn said she'd feel better about her team if only it could bolster its interior game.

Just imagine how restless she'd be if not for the often-times relentless rebounding by junior Kisha Lucette.

Lucette used every bit of her 5-foot-11 frame to secure a season-high 18 rebounds in a 71-68, grind-it-out victory over Kentucky State on Saturday evening in Carter Gymnasium.

Rebound No. 18, her eighth offensive board, wound up being the game-sealer.

Up 68-65, Lucette darted after a missed free throw, snared the errant shot and scored the putback despite getting fouled.

"That was a very, very aggressive play," Kohn said. "She made a heck of a play. She's made big plays for us all year long. She's our energy."

More like stamina. Lucette logged a team-high 32 minutes, mostly because fellow post Akia Stanton, who had eight points in 22 minutes, was slowed by a lingering ankle injury.

After grabbing her final board, Lucette added the free throw to put the Lady Lions ahead 70-65, making LaShante' Dunn's 3-pointer at the buzzer a moot shot.

Lucette - who finished with 17 points Saturday, six of which came on putbacks - had 17 rebounds in a game earlier this year.

"It's mental," she said. "You have to commit yourself to being aggressive and hitting the boards hard. You have to want the ball."

It looked as though Paine would cruise to the win after its strong close to the first half. The Lady Lions (6-5, 6-0 SIAC) outscored the Thorobrettes (1-10, 0-7) 20-5 in the last 4:23 to take a 43-30 lead to the locker room. That run echoed a 17-4 spurt earlier in the half.

Sloppiness in their half-court offense allowed Kentucky State to creep back in, but timely plays, such as Lucette's, allowed the Lady Lions to get out with the victory despite committing 21 turnovers (Kentucky State had 26).

Freshman Savoyia Barrett added 14 and Kendra Williams had 11 for Paine, which has now won four in a row.

"We're starting to gel," she said. "We're going to be all right since we've got our chemistry going."

 •  It took the Paine men a little more than 35 minutes to do so, but the Lions were finally able to pull away from Kentucky State in a 83-73 victory.

After leading by only five a couple of minutes earlier, Lions sophomore Brian Harper's score in the paint elevated Paine's lead to 70-59 with 4:23 left. It was never challenged earnestly after that.

Nate Lewis led the Lions (5-6, 4-3) with 23 points. Daniel Lomax had 13 and Lamario Latson added 12.

Paine plays host to Lane College on Monday for a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Reach Travis Haney at (706) 823-3304 or travis.haney@augustachronicle.com