NASHVILLE –
Nekaya Williams made a free throw with three seconds left to lift Oakwood University to a thrilling 78-77 come-from-behind victory over Fisk University Sunday afternoon in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener for both teams at Henderson A. Johnson Gymnasium.
The Lady Ambassadors trailed 38-31 at intermission and 62-57 after three quarters before outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 21-15 in the fourth quarter to claim their first GCAC win since joining the conference last summer.
"What a way to start conference play," Oakwood coach Aleshia Greene said. "For us to come on the road and come away with this win says a lot about the character we have on this team. I'm so proud of this group."
Oakwood improved to 3-10 overall with the win and 1-0 in league play. Fisk fell to 5-5 and 0-1.
Fisk led 75-69 after two free throws by Maya Buckhanon with just over three minutes remaining, but managed just two points the rest of the way as Oakwood battled back.
The Lady Ambassadors closed the game with an 8-2 run, capped by Williams' free throw to notch their first road win of the season. Williams was fouled attempting a 3-pointer with three seconds left. She missed the first one, made the second one and missed the third one.
Williams (Lilburn, GA) led the way with 20 points. She was 6-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
Trenisha Adams (Rome, GA) finished with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, while
Brittany Lawless-Sherrill (Goodlettsville, TN) had 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds.
Oakwood shot 43.1 (28-of-65) percent from the field, including 42.1 (8-of-19) percent from 3-point range. The Lady Ambassadors shot 63.6 (14-of-22) percent from the free throw line and won despite getting outrebounded 56-41, including 30-15 on the offensive end.
Buckhanon was one of four players in double figures for Fisk, finishing with 27 points and 16 rebounds.
Oakwood is back in action Friday at the GCAC Round Up in New Orleans at Dillard University. The Lady Ambassadors will take on Wiley College Friday at noon, Dillard University Saturday at 5 p.m. and Rust College Sunday at noon.
