Columbia, SC - The Lady Yellow Jackets of Allen University gave the home crowd one last show before the holiday break, defeating Spring Hill College 72–58 inside Adams Gymnasium to improve to 7–4 overall and 6–3 in SIAC play.
Spring Hill came out aggressive and fearless, punching early and often. Their physicality and scrappy play helped them take a 34–29 lead into halftime, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Allen's own Morgan Smith, who stole momentum and reminded everyone the Jackets weren't going away quietly.
But it was what happened in the locker room that changed everything.
Head Coach Olivia Gaines, a proven motivator and master of adjustments, didn't need her words to be heard by the crowd. But the message rang loud and clear in the second half. Allen erupted with energy, outscoring Spring Hill 19–14 in the third and dominating the fourth quarter 24–10 — a gritty and disciplined 43–24 second-half swing.
The stat sheet tells the story of a complete team effort.
Frontcourt Firepower
Peighton Jambor was unstoppable in the paint, finishing with a season-high 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting while pulling down 9 rebounds. She set the tone early and never let up, owning her matchup all night.
Kassadi King continued her double-double dominance, grabbing 13 rebounds and adding 9 points, acting as the enforcer on the glass while anchoring Allen's interior.
Backcourt Balance
Jasmine Norman brought instant offense off the bench with a smooth 10 points, while Eboni Clay orchestrated the flow with 6 points, 5 assists, and 1 steal. Clay's leadership from the point guard position continues to stabilize the team's offensive sets.
Morgan Smith was a true spark plug again, dropping 9 points, grabbing 6 boards, and hitting the momentum-swinging shot to end the first half.
Bench Impact
The depth of this Yellow Jackets roster is becoming a true weapon. Contributions came from everywhere — Jamicia Davis (4 pts), Amaris Ridgeway (3 pts), Tanaja Kennedy (3 steals), and Auak Jok (3 rebounds) all stepped in and made the most of their minutes.
Final Statement
This game was more than just a win — it was a message. Allen has the toughness, talent, and togetherness to compete with anyone in the SIAC. Coach Gaines continues to mold this group into a unit that defends, rebounds, and shares the basketball at a high level.
As the Yellow Jackets head into Christmas break with momentum and a winning record, there's a growing sense that this team is just scratching the surface.
From all of us at Allen Athletics… Happy Holidays!
We'll see you in the New Year with unfinished business and even bigger goals.
