Smith hits buzzer shot for home win

KiKi Smith wonders why she just didn't call a time out.

With 1.6 seconds left to go and her team down by one point, Smith found herself with the ball in her hands and on the wrong side of the court.

"I've seen some crazy buzzer beaters on ESPN and I've always dreamed of making one but I never knew it would really happen," Smith said.

After Bethany scored a quick two on the Lady Braves the ball was inbounded to Smith who had time for a quick dribble and then threw up the shot of a lifetime.

"I thought, oh my gosh, that might go in," Smith said.

Smith couldn't let herself get too excited yet though.

"I was in shock," she said. "I thought the refs were going to say it wasn't good."

But, her shot counted and Wilson Field House erupted.

Emma Hartzler, who led the team in scoring with 17 said that winning a game like last night just proves that there is always a chance.

"This will help going into the conference tournament since we aren't a very high seed," Hartzler said. "It was just a sweet victory."

Smith thinks that the team has experienced growth from the shot already.

"We will grow from this because we will play each game to the last second," Smith said. "It brought a lot of energy to the team. That's a big help because it's hard to create your own energy when you are having a rough season like we are."

The play was featured as Channel 9 News' ‘Shot of the Day' later that night.

The 76-74 win took the Lady Braves record to 5-19. The women take to the road Thursday night to take on Southwestern College.

Head coach Bruce Tate said overcoming a 58-41 deficit may have been a bigger acomplishment for the Lady Braves.

"The shot was huge of course," Tate said. "But the comeback was probably the biggest momentum builder the way we were down the second half."

Tate believes winning that way can be a big lift going into the post-season.

"It brings that excitement to the game," Tate said. "Hopefully it'll keep us high throughout the semester."