#TCCBasketball: Wilson carries Eagles past Palm Beach State

OCALA, Fla. (March 8, 2017) – Sophomore guard Lawriell Wilson tied a school record with 39 points to lead NJCAA No. 9/Region 8 No. 3 Tallahassee Community College past No. 17/No. 4 Palm Beach State College, 97-86, in quarterfinal round action at the FCSAA State/NJCAA District Tournament. 

Tallahassee (23-6) moves into the semifinals where it will meet a familiar foe, Panhandle Conference regular season champion Gulf Coast State College, at 3 p.m. Friday. 

More postgame coverage from Ariel Bedford

Wilson scored 25 of her 39 points after the half and her first points of the third quarter moved her past Eagle great Syreeta Bromfield as the school's all-time leading scorer. Wilson now has 1,080 career points – and the Eagles needed every point to put away the Panthers. 

Palm Beach State never trailed through the first two quarters. The Panthers led 31-26 after a quarter and maintained the five-point advantage until five unanswered from Wilson tied the game at 43-all. 

Palm Beach State eventually took a 48-46 lead to the locker room. 

Jas Hill opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer from the corner that gave Tallahassee its first lead of the game, 49-48. 

Wilson began to take control of the game in the third quarter and her basket at the 2:21 mark pushed the Eagles' lead to 66-59. 

Tallahassee led 70-61 after three and Wilson's three-pointer to start the fourth increased the lead to a dozen, its largest of the night. 

Palm Beach State rallied, however, and pulled to within three, 78-75, with more than six minutes left. The Eagles closed strong, however, outscoring Palm Beach State 19-11 the rest of the way. 

Hill finished with 26 points, Japonica James had 18 and Lindsay John, 12.