Lady Royals Take Down Bryan College on Electric Light Blue Night, Move One Win from Conference Title

KNOXVILLE, TN– In front of an energized home crowd on Light Blue Night, the Johnson University Lady Royals delivered a crucial 80-74 victory over Bryan College on Wednesday at Douglas E. Karnes Arena. The win keeps Johnson one step away from clinching a share of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) championship.

Head coach Bryan Lawhon was emotional after the hard-fought win, praising his team's perseverance and the incredible support from the fans. "So proud of our girls. The determination & pure grit to win is second to none," Lawhon said. "With this win, it puts us one win away from a conference championship/co-championship. This team has come so far this season, breaking every single-season JU women's basketball record, but the mission is still not complete. The crowd & campus support was amazing, it carried us through honestly. What a way to end the home part of our schedule."

Back-and-Forth Battle

The game was tightly contested from the start, with Bryan leading 15-14 after the first quarter. Johnson responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Bryan 21-15 to take a 35-30 halftime lead.

Bryan fought back in the third, putting up 21 points to cut the deficit to one heading into the final period. However, Johnson saved their best for last, exploding for 29 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Key Performers

• Hannah Jones was dominant in the paint, scoring a game-high 26 points while grabbing eight rebounds.

• Jordan Heifner filled the stat sheet with 22 points, seven assists, and two steals.

• Bekah Gardner was sharp from deep, hitting four three-pointers and finishing with 13 points.

• Emily Wilson added 11 points, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes.

Team Effort Seals the Win

The Lady Royals shot 43.3% from the field and 82.6% from the free-throw line, making 19 of 23 attempts. They also won the rebounding battle 40-40 and converted 16 second-chance points. Despite Bryan's 40 points in the paint, Johnson's tenacious defense and clutch shot-making proved to be the difference.

Next Up

With one game remaining in the regular season, Johnson (23-4, 18-3 AAC) sits on the brink of history. A win in their final game would secure at least a share of the conference championship. For updates and the latest schedule, visit JohnsonRoyals.com.