LAKE WORTH, Fla. – The No. 8 Parkland College women's basketball team escaped its second game of the PBSC New Year's Classic with a 70-68 win over tournament hosts No. 19 Palm Beach State College on Saturday, January 6. The Cobras (12-2) looked headed to overtime after coughing up a late four-point lead to the Panthers (15-4), but sophomore forward Rhylea Johnson was fouled with 0.1 seconds remaining, and the Belleville, Illinois native sank both free throws to pull out the road win over 19th-ranked PBSC. Sophomore Alyssa Cole led all scorers with 30 points, her second time scoring 30 this season.
 
"Rhylea knocked down two big free throws when it mattered, and that's what it takes to be a championship team," head coach Jean Demosthenes said after the win.
 
"I'm so proud of the resilience of our team," the first-year head coach continued. "We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball, but overall, it was a great team win. Thank you to all the families who traveled to support our team," Demosthenes added.
 
The Cobras held an early 18-11 lead after the first quarter, extending their lead to as many as nine points in the second quarter, but the Panthers closed the gap and Parkland led 36-32 at halftime. Another strong start gave the Cobras a 45-33 lead with 6:30 to go in the third quarter and a 55-45 lead heading into the fourth. Parkland called timeout with a 61-53 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Palm Beach State comeback was already on. The Cobras called another timeout with 2:07 remaining in the game, this time leading just 67-64, and sophomore Alyssa Cole went 1/2 from the free throw line out of the timeout to give Parkland a four-point lead. The Panthers erased the deficit in the final minutes, but a late foul put Cobra forward Rhylea Johnson at the line with 0.1 seconds on the clock, and the sophomore knocked down both free throws to lift Parkland to a 70-68 win.
 
Statistical Overview:
Alyssa Cole: 30 points, 7-8 FT, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Abby Shepard: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Rhylea Johnson: 10 points, 8 rebounds
Siarah Brown: 6 points, 6 rebounds
 
Up next, the Cobras open conference play on Saturday, January 13, at home versus Lewis & Clark Community College. Tip-off against the Trailblazers (1-6) is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex.