ROME, Ga. – As far as a final regular season games go, this one has developed into a perfect storm of importance.

It's the final home game and, in turn, marks the annual recognition of seniors. It's also against a foe that is an arch-rival.

But when Shorter University hosts Lee University in the last Gulf South Conference regular-season tilt of the year on a "Blue Out" night Thursday at the Winthrop-King Centre, the biggest factor in the proverbial "big game" storyline is that there is even more at stake – the Lady Hawks need a win to earn the right to host a first-round game of next week's GSC Tournament, while the Hawks must emerge victorious keep their postseason hopes alive.

"We're in a scenario that's in our hands and you couldn't ask for a better situation," Lady Hawks head coach Vic Mitchell said about his team's clash with the Lady Flames, which tips off at 6 p.m. "We know that if we win, we'll host the first-round game.

"As important as it is, it turns out that it's against our rival and it's Senior Night."

Shorter heads into the huge contest with an 18-7 overall record and finds itself in a three-way tie at 15-6 with Delta State and Lee – No. 11-ranked Union has locked up the No. 1 seed, with West Florida lurking a game behind the trio with a 14-7 mark and seeking as well to lock up one of the three remaining top four seed and the accompanying home court advantage in the first round of the tournament.

A victory against the Lady Flames (19-8) would give the Lady Hawks the No. 3 spot and the right to play at home next Tuesday; a setback puts them on the road for the first round of the GSC tourney, which moves to the Pete Hannah Center on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., for the semifinals and finals on March 4-5.

In the first meeting between the two teams last Month in Cleveland, Tenn., Lee held the upper-hand when the Lady Flames handed the Lady Hawks a 64-48 defeat, a game that saw the Lady Hawks connect on just 27 percent of their shots from the floor.

"It was just a bad day for us," said Mitchell. "We didn't shoot well, we didn't run well – nothing went right for us."

Lee comes to Rome riding a three-game win streak and is led by Erin Walsh, who averages a team-high 17.8 points and in the first game against Shorter paced her squad with 21 points.

The Lady Hawks, however, will be on their home floor where they have posted a 10-2 record, including wins in their last four outings at WKC.

Junior Taylor Adams leads the Lady Hawks having a double-double season, averaging 15.7 points and 10.4 rebounds, while senior Shakierya McClendon is also averaging in double digits averaging 10-3 points.

"We have to do a good job preparing and so far they've done a good job doing that," Mitchell said. "This is what they've worked for. They're excited to have this opportunity."

Head coach Tyler Murray and the Hawks are also aware that despite a slow start during the early weeks of the GSC campaign, they have put themselves into the position of having the opportunity to play in the postseason, needing a win to remain in the hunt – it has to be coupled with a West Georgia win over West Alabama on Thursday – for the No. 8 and final berth in next week's GSC tournament.

"There's a lot of cards to be played," said Murray, who sees the Hawks (13-14, 8-13) take on Lee (10-17, 7-14) at 8 p.m. "There's the revenge factor since we played one of our worst games of the season up there and it's Senior Night and it's a rivalry game.

"But we go into it," he said, "looking at it as our next game and one we need to win."

In the first meeting between the two teams, host Lee hit 60 percent of its shots to hand the Hawks a 98-83 loss, with Keevin Tyus – he leads the team in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (7.3) – connecting for 26 points and pulling down 13 rebounds and heading up a strong inside game.

The Hawks, however, certainly have the firepower to go along with their home-court edge to come up with the much-needed win as they have five players averaging in double figures – junior Phil Taylor (he leads the team and the GSC with a 25.5 point average), senior Trevor McDade (14.3), junior Chris Daniels (13.0), Amonte Potter (11.3) and Alijah Bennett (10.8.)

"No one has to tell them what they have to do," Murray said. "We've put ourselves in position to do this."