Lady Royals Storm Back in Fourth to Edge Brenau, 73-72

The Lady Royals rallied in the fourth quarter to secure a thrilling 73-72 victory over Brenau (Ga.) on Saturday afternoon inside Douglas E. Karnes Arena.

The Lady Royals (11-14, 10-9) jumped out to a strong start, building an 18-7 lead after the first quarter behind efficient shooting and solid defensive pressure. Brenau responded in the second and third quarters, outscoring Johnson 45-27 across that stretch to take a 52-45 advantage heading into the final period.

Johnson saved its best for last, erupting for 28 fourth-quarter points to complete the comeback. A balanced offensive attack and timely stops down the stretch proved to be the difference in the one-point contest.

Emery Tollett led the Lady Royals with 21 points and 12 rebounds, knocking down four three-pointers and going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Olivia Bolduc added 17 points and four assists, while Hailey Brooks contributed 12 points. Gibson Boykin provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

As a team, Johnson dominated the glass with a 52-41 rebounding advantage, including 19 offensive boards that led to key second-chance opportunities. The Lady Royals shot 40 percent from three-point range and 73 percent from the free-throw line in the win.

With the victory, Johnson edges closer to the .500 mark in conference play as the regular season winds down.