CARROLLTON, Ga. – Less than a week ago, the Shorter women's basketball team found the magic in the final seconds to secure a much-needed Gulf South Conference win when senior Ieshia Alexander hit a game-winning shot at Alabama-Huntsville.

On Thursday night, however, the ball bounced the wrong way at the final moments of the Lady Hawks game against homestanding West Georgia, which saw Alexander's potential game-tying shot roll off the rim and give the Wolves a 57-53 GSC decision.

The loss leaves Shorter with a 6-12 conference record (10-14 overall) and puts the Lady Hawks into an even more must-win situation if they want to remain in the hunt for a berth in the GSC tournament.

The two teams opened the game finding it hard to put points on the board, watching more than two minutes run off the clock before Alexander broke the cold start by hitting a short jumper for the first points of the evening.
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From there, the Lady Hawks took control of the game and grabbed a five-point lead when Grace Rogers scored inside.

West Georgia, however, quickly erased the deficit and the two teams settled into a give-and-take battle for the lead and with 2:37 left in the first half Tatiana Allen scored off an offensive rebound to create a 20-20 deadlock.

But that's when the Wolves (10-8, 15-9) turned up the pressure and went on an 8-0 run ­to closes out the half, the final two points coming when Katrina Littlepage hit a running layup at the buzzer that gave the hosts a 28-20 halftime lead.

West Georgia made it a 10-point margin in the opening seconds of the second half, but Shorter came up with a surge to close the gap and eventually take a 35-34 lead when Shaundricka Mann scored inside with 14 minutes to go.

From that point on, the two teams traded baskets and with nine minutes left to play, the Lady Hawks got back-to-back three-pointers from Madison Rice and Tamarr Williams to assume a 43-42 edge. That, however, proved to be the final time Shorter would have the lead.

Two minutes later, West Georgia regained the lead, one they would not relinquish the rest of the way although Shorter refused to go quietly and, in fact, position themselves to at least create one more tie in the final seconds.

With 31 seconds remaining, Alexander hit a pair of free throws to pull her team to within two, 55-53, and after West Georgia misfired on a shot with Williams pulling down the rebound.

Shorter head coach Vic Mitchell called a time out with eight ticks of the clock showing to set up a play and on the inbounds play, Alexander made her move to the basket, got off a shot only to see it roll off the rim.

West Georgia sealed the win at the foul line, where they were missed just four of 20 charity tosses.

The Lady Hawks, who connected on just 38 percent of their shots from the floor, were led by Rice and Jackie Hudson, who had nine points each with Hudson pulling down nine rebounds. Williams and Alexander finished with eight points apiece.

Taylor Beverly led West Georgia with a game-high 24 points while Littlepage added 15.

The Lady Hawks go back on the road Saturday for a conference showdown at West Alabama, return home to host Delta State (Feb. 19) and Mississippi College (Feb. 21) and close out the regular season with a road trip to Lee on Feb. 28.