Lady Bengals earn key win over Roxbury

The game was in doubt until the final seconds, but the Lady Bengals held on as LSU Eunice grabbed a 79-76 win over Roxbury Community College Tuesday night.
"It was a great team win," Lady Bengal head coach Amanda Clemons said. "Every one on the court stepped up and contributed to the victory."
After the game was tied twice early in the first quarter, the Lady Tigers from Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts battled to a 20-19 advantage.
Becca Brooks and Katie Lemieux both scored six points to help LSU Eunice keep the game close.
The Lady Bengals battled ahead for a 30-20 lead in the second period, sparked by a trey from Abby Jolie and a strong inside game from Lemieux.
Morgan Eddleman scored twice underneath and Lemeiux added two more drives in the lane to push the Lady Bengals ahead 38-23 with 5:00 left in the half.
Roxbury responded with an 11-1 run to close the gap to seven points before Jazmyn Menina went coast-to-coast with 11 seconds left to push the Lady Bengals ahead, 41-32 at intermission.
Roxbury’s Alyssa Stevens scored seven straight points to open the third period as the Lady Tigers pulled close before Lemieux and Eddleman scored to push LSU Eunice ahead, 45-39 at the 5:46 mark.
Roxbury answered with a 7-2 to grab a 49-47 lead, but Eddleman tied the game with a drive and Menina added a bucket to give the Lady Bengals a 51-49 advantage heading into the final period.
The offensive barrage continued in the fourth quarter as Roxbury went on a 9-4 run to take a 59-55 lead with 7:28 left in the game.
Lemieux scored twice inside and drained a three-pointer, while Menina added a bucket to give LSU Eunice a 64-60 lead.
Ryia Newsome converted a three-point play and Cha Cha Diaz scored to give Roxbury a 68-66 advantage with 3:26 left.
The Lady Bengals answered with a 7-0 run, led by four points from Madelyn LeJeune and three more from Lemieux.
After Stevens scored for the Lady Tigers, LeJeune pushed in four points as LSU Eunice forged ahead for a 77-70 advantage.
Roxbury’s Stevens and Newsome added two quick scores in the lane to close the margin to 77-74.
Lemieux hit two free throws with 23 seconds left before Bre Pickett scored late to pull Roxbury close, 79-76.
After an inbounds turnover, the Lady Bengal defense held on in the final five seconds to seal the win.
"This has to give our girls some confidence and build some momentum as we head toward conference play," Clemons said.
Lemieux led LSU Eunice with 32 points, while LeJeune chipped in 15 points and Menina added 11 points.
LeJeune added 18 rebounds, while Lemieux had seven steals.
Menina had four steals and Brooks recorded five assists for the Lady Bengals.
Stevens led Roxbury with 30 points, while Amariah Brown and Diaz each contributed 11 points and Taj Lewis added 10 points.
LSU Eunice (4-14) travels to Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, Alabama Friday before opening Miss-Lou Conference play at home against Baton Rouge Community College on Jan. 27.
It was Roxbury’s first loss as the Lady Tigers fall to 10-1 on the season.