No. 7 Shelton State Slips Past No. 16 Wallace State, 45–43, in Defensive Battle

HANCEVILLE — In a tightly contested matchup between two nationally ranked teams, No. 7 Shelton State edged No. 16 Wallace State 45–43 on Thursday night in a defensive struggle that came down to the final minutes.

Both teams showcased physical, disciplined defense throughout the contest, keeping scoring at a premium. The game was tied 11–11 after the opening quarter, with Kameron Sanders leading the Lions with five points and Zamyra Goode adding four.

Wallace State inched ahead in the second quarter, leaning on timely offense and defensive stops to take a 23–22 lead into halftime. Idaysia Mercer provided a spark during the period, scoring five points to help the Lions grab the one-point advantage at the break.

The Lions continued to battle in the third quarter, maintaining a slim edge and taking a 34–32 lead into the final period. Balanced scoring highlighted the quarter for Wallace State, as Goode, Mercer and Sanders each scored three points while the Lions limited Shelton State's opportunities.

Shelton State made its push in the fourth quarter, outscoring Wallace State 13–9 to complete the comeback. The Bucs capitalized on key second-chance opportunities late to secure the two-point victory in the low-scoring affair.

Despite the loss, Wallace State turned in a strong defensive performance. The Lions forced 15 turnovers, held Shelton State in check for much of the game and finished with seven assists on 15 made field goals. Wallace State also stayed competitive on the glass, pulling down 28 rebounds.

Goode led Wallace State with 13 points, adding four rebounds, an assist and two steals. Sanders followed with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, continuing her strong two-way play. Mercer finished with nine points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Leah Childress added five points and two rebounds, while Sinaya Gibson contributed four points, six rebounds, an assist and two steals. Taylor Smith pulled down five rebounds for the Lions.

Wallace State showed poise and competitiveness against a top-10 opponent, falling just short in a game defined by defense, toughness and execution on both ends of the floor.