DAVIE, FL --- Trailing for the first time all season, the ASA Women’s Basketball team stepped up to the challenge, coming from behind to capture a 69-65 victory over Indian River State College in the first game of the Broward College Classic. The win keeps ASA perfect at 9-0 and avenges a 66-47 loss to IRSC last season.

The Lady Avengers came out of the gate strong, matching Indian River punch for punch and taking a 16-11 lead toward the middle of the first half. However, Indian River made an aggressive push, running off a 13-2 run to take a 24-18 advantage with under seven minutes to go. ASA would make the next move, outscoring IRSC 13-7 over the next three-plus minutes to time the game at 31-31. IRSC hung tough and headed into the locker room with a 40-35 lead.

ASA would score the first two baskets to open the second half and kept chipping away at Indian River’s lead until a Sashana Bucknor (New Haven, CT) steal and Deborah Anderson (Tacoma, WA) and-one gave the Lady Avengers a 47-46 lead with 13:01 remaining. The turning point of the contest came when sophomores Tanikqua McFarlane (Queens, NY) and Angel Porter (Brooklyn, NY) scored and were fouled on consecutive ASA baskets. The five points scored in the sequence gave ASA a four-point lead, 52-48 – a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

ASA was paced by sophomore guard Latasia Ward (Bronx, NY), who led the team with 19 points on 8-for-11 shooting. Ward was 3-for-5 from the line, pulled down five rebounds, and notched one assist, steal and block each. Anderson was the only other player in double figures. The freshman had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals. Bucknor added nine points and seven rebounds for the Lady Avengers.

The team returns to action tomorrow, December 30, as they take on Classic host Broward College at 5pm. ASA finishes their Florida road trip on New Year’s Eve as they go up against Miami Dade College. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 12pm.