Women's Basketball Upset No. 2 Seed to Move on in AAC Tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn.- The seventh-seeded women's basketball team won a defensive struggle against the No. 2 seed in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Tournament, the Johnson University Lady Royals, on Thursday. The team won the game 52-35.

The game began as a low-scoring affair, with both teams struggling to convert on early opportunities. Tennessee Wesleyan took an early lead when Anna Crowder scored a layup off an offensive rebound, making it 2-0. The Lady Bulldogs' defense held strong, forcing multiple missed shots from Johnson, with Crowder and Jacelyn Stone securing key defensive rebounds. Despite the strong defensive effort, Tennessee Wesleyan's offense couldn't fully capitalize in the first quarter, managing just nine points. A late three-pointer by Alexis Bates, assisted by Crowder, gave the Lady Bulldogs a 9-6 lead after the first 10 minutes.

The second quarter remained a defensive grind, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Jalaya Lindsey and Jaci Powell provided crucial free throws, and Stone hit a jumper to maintain the Bulldogs' lead. Johnson attempted to push back, but TWU entered halftime with an 18-16 advantage. Tennessee Wesleyan continued to rely on strong defensive play in the third quarter, holding Johnson to just five points in the period. Crowder and Lindsey controlled the glass, preventing second-chance opportunities for Johnson.

Offensively, the Lady Bulldogs saw contributions from Powell, who knocked down a key jumper, and Stone, who added another inside basket. Despite their offensive struggles, TWU extended their lead to 29-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

The final quarter was a completely different story, as Tennessee Wesleyan exploded for 23 points to pull away. Lindsey got things started with a three-pointer, assisted by Stone before Crowder drained a three of her own. With momentum in their favor, the Lady Bulldogs capitalized on turnovers, with Lindsey and Powell scoring in transition. Stone continued to be a force, adding a pair of layups to put the game out of reach. Defensively, Tennessee Wesleyan remained locked in, allowing just 14 points in the quarter while controlling the tempo. A late layup by Crowder and free throws from Powell sealed the win, as the Lady Bulldogs closed out a dominant 52-35 victory.

Stone scored 14 points while Crowder had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. 

TWU (17-12, 12-10) will face No. 3 seed Reinhardt University in the semifinals on Friday. The game is set to begin at 4:00 p.m.