Lady Eagles fend off Miami Dade for Thanksgiving victory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 22, 2012) – Freshman Aiyannah Peal scored a game-high 17 points to lead a quartet of double-figure scorers for FCSAA No. 5 Tallahassee Community College in a 66-61 victory over Miami Dade College on day two action at the TCC Basketball Thanksgiving Classic presented by G&G Caribbean Restaurant. 

Peal also took game-high honors with 10 rebounds to record her first career double-double. 

Karley Barnes and Addesha Collins scored 15 points each and Aariel Allen added 11 for the Lady Eagles, who are now 6-2 on the season. 

Early on, Miami Dade looked like anything but a team playing its third game in three days, as the Sharks jumped out to a 15-10 lead near the midway point of the first half. 

A jumper in the paint by Peal started a 16-2 run that swung the momentum and the lead in Tallahassee's favor. Peal also finished the run, hitting a free throw to put the Lady Eagles in front, 30-21, with 3:19 left in the first half. 

Tallahassee extended its lead to ten before settling for a 34-26 lead at the intermission. 

The Lady Eagles outscored Miami Dade, 14-5, over the first seven minutes of the second half to take a 48-31 lead. Miami Dade cut the lead to single digits, 54-45, with 7:21 left, but never seriously threatened down the stretch. 

Jasmin Burger scored 14 points to pace Miami Dade. Sierra Lark and Adenike Dawodu scored 12 points each. 

Tallahassee will return to action on Friday when it travels to Gainesville, Fla., for the first day of the annual Florida College's Women's Basketball Shootout and a 4 p.m. matchup against Brevard Community College.