Box Score By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – The last game of the season ended in much of the same fashion as most of the other games they've played this year – only this time it hurt a little more.

After holding their own, turning in one of their best efforts this season and leading for much of the afternoon against the top team in the Gulf South Conference, the Shorter women's basketball team was unable to seal the deal Saturday when visiting Lee handed the Lady Hawks a 53-46 conference defeat.

The outcome spoiled the final career games for Shorter seniors Karisma Boykin, Kristin Nash, Lynette Harris and Milena Samson, who joined their teammates in hoping to give head coach Vic Mitchell his 400^th career win at Shorter.

The Lady Hawks close out what has been a frustrating season, one that has included a plethora of similar games that have been decided by a few points in the final minutes, with a 6-19 overall record and a 4-14 GSC slate.

From the start, however, it was clear that Shorter focused on making a statement against Lee's Lady Flames, who although in their first year as a GSC member and not eligible for a conference title topped the conference standings.

After both teams had trouble getting their offense going, the Lady Hawks took a 10-9 lead midway through the first half on a layup by Boykin, built it up to a six-point lead when Nash hit a three-pointer to give her team a 15-9 advantages and took a 20-19 lead into the locker room at the half.

The final 20 minutes opened with Shorter again in control as the Lady Hawks went on a 6-0 run to start the half, with Boykin converting a three-point play less than three minutes in that provided her team a 26-19 lead, and after Lee closed to within striking distance the home team re-established control.

With 4:34 to play, Nash found the mark from the three-point line to help Shorter assume a 44-39 lead but suddenly saw the Lady Flames, making the most of some key offensive rebounds, reel eight unanswered points and assume a 47-44 edge when Jenna Adams nailed a three-pointer with 1:58 remaining to play.

Nash answered scoring on a layup to bring Shorter to within one with a minute and a half left, but that wound up being the final points the Lady Hawks could muster as Lee held on for the win.

Nash wound up closing out her career at Shorter leading all scorers with 20 points, Harris finished with 10 and Boykin added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. Ieshia Alexander, the Lady Hawks' leading scorer averaging 13.3 points a game, was held scoreless.

Hollie German led Lee (21-4, 17-2) with 15 points and Adams added 10 points and 12 rebounds.