By Destiny Hartwell
SAVANNAH, GA. — The Savannah Steel closed out their inaugural UPSHOT League season on a high note Sunday afternoon, pulling off a thrilling 92-90 overtime victory over the Jacksonville Waves at Enmarket Arena.
In a grueling season defined by roster turnover and continuous adjustments, Savannah (9-25) secured its first victory over Jacksonville in dramatic fashion, led by a legendary performance from birthday girl Lauryn Taylor.
Taylor gave herself the ultimate gift, pouring in 20 points and delivering when it mattered most. Though she started the contest, she didn’t start the extra frame. Head coach Toccara Ross subbed her in mid-overtime with a simple instruction: shoot when open. Taylor executed the plan to perfection, draining two massive three-pointers before turning around to sink the game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock.
“I just kept confidence in myself throughout this entire season,” Taylor said in her post-game interview when reflecting on the clutch moment and Coach Ross trusting her to make plays down the stretch.
JJ Quinerly spearheaded the overall attack with a team-high 27 points, going 12-of-15 at the free-throw line. Ja’Leah Williams added 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in a heavy 42-minute shift.
Williams praised the faith that coach Ross has given her throughout her time on this team.
I really take heed to having a connection with a coach, and she had faith in me before even seeing me play,” Williams said. “She does a great job, not just on the court, but off the court, of giving you that extra confidence to believe in yourself.”
Jacksonville controlled much of the early action before Savannah took a tight 39-38 edge into halftime. The Waves regained momentum in the third, holding the lead for nearly 28 minutes overall and building an eight-point cushion. Ariel Hearn led all scorers with 22 points for the Waves, while Rennia Davis poured in 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
Despite trailing late, Savannah stayed resilient. The Steel dominated points off turnovers (16-8) and utilized an 8-0 fourth quarter run to force the extra period.
In a back-and-forth extra period featuring 15 total lead changes and 15 ties, Savannah outscored Jacksonville 15-13. High-energy defense from Alaina Coates set the tone, setting the stage for Taylor’s birthday heroics.
While the inaugural campaign presented plenty of adversity, ending the season with a gritty home victory provides a massive boost heading into the offseason.
For complete team and individual statistics from today’s matchup, view the full game box score.
The second season of Steel basketball will be here before you know it! Visit steelupshot.com for more information.
–STEEL–