BATESVILLE, Ark. – When the Lyon College Scots captured their third American Midwest Conference regular-season championship in a row there was small court-side ceremony to celebrate the seniors who led the way.
Parents and friends snapped photos with their phones to memorialize the moment Lyon College women’s basketball team accomplished a three-time title run and put themselves among the elite in the conference status. The Scots have won the regular season four times, but in recent years have established themselves as a defensive dynasty and dethroned Columbia College, who had dominated the AMC with 10 titles dating back to 1994.
“I am just really happy and appreciative of the commitments and investments of the kids and staff involved to make that happen,” said 17-year Scots head coach Tracy Stewart-Lange. “I think winning the regular season title is so special, because you have to be good through long stretches during multiple hurdles, COVID, travel, injury, sickness, etc…I know how much juggling our players have to do with their classes on top of all of that. So, to do that three years in a row, makes me very happy and proud.”
Lyon leads the AMC in defense allowing 50.2 points per game, is first in the margin of victory with an average of 12.4 points per game, they are first in opponents field goal percentage of 34.4 percent, they lead in assist/turnover ratio with a .96.
Individually, the Scots have been led by NAIA All-American and 2021 AMC Player of the Year Jade Giron, who plans to continue her basketball career in the European professional ranks. The Lyon College Biology major is the seventh leading scorer in the conference with a 14.7 points per game average with 412 points this season. She is the conference leader in assists with 150 for a 5.4 average per game and Giron is fifth in the league in rebounding with 192, which is a 6.9 average. She is seventh in field goal percentage at, seventh in free throw percentage with 73.5 percent and she is second in assist/turnover ratio with a 2.4 average and is fifth in the conference in steals with 55.
Paige Kelley is eighth on that AMC scoring list with a 6.8 average and is 10th in free throws. Kelley is the 12th leading scorer in the conference with 12.2 points per game average and18th in blocked shots 15.
Katie Turner is 20th on the blocked shots list this year with 12. Marleigh Dodson has a 5.8 rebound average per game for 15th in the conference and is 12th in blocked shots with 21. Kristen Baham is eighth in the AMC in 3-point goals per game with 49 in 29 games and Mari-Hannah Newsom, 37 three-pointers and 12th in the AMC and 16th in assists with 52.
But statistics are only half the story. The 2021-22 Scots have developed an identity that features their natural talents and defensive prowess.
“I think this year’s team has shown great resiliency,” Stewart-Lange said. “I am proud of how this group kept believing and came together and just hung in there with us and each other. I am so grateful for all these kids for not giving up early and turning it around the way they did. I think going through the early struggles, choosing to stay together, and being able to come through all that and be AMC Conference Champions should translate into a very confident team that will compete with anyone.”
It took the Scots a few games to get comfortable this season and when they did, the result has been a 20-game winning streak. Included, is the game-winning shot Turner hit against Columbia College as the buzzer sounded to put Lyon College in first place. Since, their confidence is evident and they enter the American Midwest Conference tournament as the number one seeded team.
“Going into post season, I expect anything and everything from our opponents,” Stewart-Lange said. “I just hope I get no surprises from my team. We just need to keep striving for improvement and being excited to play the next game because that is all we have. It is a new season and I hope that brings us renewed focus and energy and I believe it will.”
By Martin Couch, Lyon College Athletics
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