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Monarchs advance in WABA playoffs
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TaQaunda Mike with the Coastal Empire Lady Monarchs.

HINESVILLE, Ga.- The Coastal Empire Lady Monarchs advanced in the Women's American Basketball Association playoffs with recent wins over the Montgomery Lady Magic and the Atlanta Angels.

The Monarchs beat Montgomery 84-83 the first round of the playoffs  at the Shuman Recreation Center on Oct. 5 and followed that up with a 95-92 overtime road win over Atlanta the following day.

In the game against Montgomery, Coastal scored the first four points of the contest but the Magic answered with a 18-7 run to finish the opening quarter.

The Monarchs started the second quarter with a 15-6 spurt to grab a 26-24 lead at the 3:46 mark, after a layup by Naqaiyyah Teague.

Coastal led 33-32 with 51 second left in the second quarter but closed the period with baskets from Sol Solage and Diamond Johnson to take a 37-33 advantage into intermission.

Both teams scored 23 points each in the third quarter while Montgomery out-scored the Monarchs 27-24 in the fourth quarter.

Montgomery, who trailed by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter, found themselves down 80-65 with 4:28 left. The visitors from Alabama finished the game with a 18-4 run while holding the Monarchs scoreless the final 2:03 of the contest.

Teague led the Monarchs with 19 points while Johnson added 22. Makhala Jackson scored 12 points and TaQaunda Mike chipped in 11.

Montgomery was led by former Florida State standout Shakayla Thomas and former South Carolina Upstate player Kristen Dickerson. Both players scored 25 points each.

Against Atlanta, the Monarchs knocked the Angels from the unbeaten ranks with the three-point victory.

In the fourth quarter, Coastal trailed 82-81 but Johnson hit a free throw to force an extra period.

Mike hit some key 3-pointers in the game including one with five seconds left that tied the game at 92.

With the score tied at 92, Jakayvea Akins made the game winning shot with 0.7 seconds left.

Mike ended the game with 24 points while Akins scored 20.

The Monarchs, who extended their winning streak to nine, will face the Midwest Sound, who is also undefeated with a 9-0 record, in the next round of the playoffs. The game is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Shuman Recreation Center.


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