By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It was the same Raiderette Columbia blue intensity and grit, now in Motlow State green and gold, as two former Moore County High School girls’ basketball stars helped lift the Lady Bucks to a resounding 80-43 win over the Roane State Community College Lady Raiders — ironically — in Lynchburg on Wednesday.

Roane State came out swinging in the first period and went on a 10-point run before Motlow’s Anaam Ali stopped the bleeding with a trey. The Lady Raiders then pieced together another five-point run before the Bucks Emily Denby headed to the line and swished one of two to make it 15-4.

Motlow State then managed a 10-point run to finish out the first tied 15-15 with the Lady Raiders thanks in no small part to a pair of treys by former Raiderette Emma Sazonov and one from the line by former gal in Columbia blue Katy Fletcher. Teammates Alicia Davis headed to the line with six seconds remaining and made both to tie the game.

Motlow started to settle down in the second period doing slow and steady work. They outscored the Lady Raiders by three in the second stanza. Fletcher kicked off the comeback with point underneath on the first possession. Davis got a steal and a basket and Sazonov got her third three of the game to piece together a quick 7-point run to make it 22-15. Roane State battled back — managing to get within one, then Davis, scored back-to-back to stretch it back to four.

The Lady Raiders answered, then Sazonov and Ali went to the line and made one of two. Roane State made one from the line as time expired to pull within three points heading into halftime.

We’re not sure what Motlow State Head Coach Daniel Price said to his ladies in the locker room, but they came out visibly fired up. They put up 31 in the second while holding Roane State to just 11.

Fletcher got the action started underneath, then Davis added one from line, and Ali scored five to give Motlow State a little breathing room, 36-25. The two teams exchanged baskets for the next several minutes with Sazonov, Fletcher, and Danica Stovall doing the heavy lifting to get up 46-30.

Motlow then began to squeeze — they swished 12 unanswered to finish out the third quarter. A visibly frustrated Roane State player got a little too mouthy and earned herself a technical. Coach Price sent in Sazonov to shoot but she missed both. The Bucks ended the third leading 59-32

Motlow put up 21 in the final quarter while holding the Lady Raiders to just 11. At the final buzzer, Motlow State earned a big 80-43 win.

Emma Sazonov led with 20 points followed closely by Alicia Davis with 19. Anaam Ali added 12 more. Her twin sister, Ayan Ali, came off the bench and swished 11. Katy Fletcher scored nine. Idaira Martinez also came off the bench and swished five. Emily Denby added four more.

Sazonov could not miss. She was a perfect seven of seven in field goal attempts and a perfect five of five from the perimeter.

Motlow State plays games each Wednesday and Saturday. If you’d like to come support the former Raiderettes and their teammates, they will play Cleveland State at home next Wednesday and Dyersburg at home on Saturday, February 28. For a full schedule, click here. •

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