Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

What a ride it’s been for the LaGrange College Panthers.

With Tuesday’s 87-24 home win over Wesleyan, LaGrange College’s women’s basketball team improved to 8-0 under the direction of first-year head coach Jasen Jonus.

Next up for LaGrange College is a home showdown with fellow unbeaten team Maryville College (8-0) on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Those same two teams will meet at Maryville on Saturday, and LaGrange College closes the regular season next Tuesday at Piedmont.

LaGrange College, Maryville and Piedmont, the top-three teams in the USA South’s West division, have a combined record of 23-0.

Those three teams, along with one more team, will compete in a four-day tournament on March 3 and March 6 to determine a division champion.

LaGrange College had no issues with Wesleyan in Tuesday’s game.

LaGrange College built a 12-4 lead after the first quarter, and it outscored Wesleyan 30-9 to build a 42-13 halftime lead.

The story was much the same in the third quarter with LaGrange College outscoring Wesleyan 31-6 to take a 73-19 lead.

Gracie Brunel had a big game off the bench for the Panthers with 22 points while making four 3-pointers.

Jahpera McEachin had a stellar all-around game with 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds and five steals, and Jada Brown chipped in with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Jalaya Lewis was in double figures in scoring with 10 points while pulling down seven rebounds, and Megan English scored eight points and had five steals.

While LaGrange College got it done on the offensive end, it also excelled on defense, holding Wesleyan to less than 15 percent shooting from the field.