University of Mobile Athletics

On Saturday night -- Senior Night for Spring Hill College -- Maria Rodriguez, one of only two seniors on the Badgers' roster, wasn't going to walk off the court and wonder "What if?"

The team that would emerge with the win, her experience told her, was the team that played the hardest.

With that in mind, Rodriguez played the final 18-plus minutes at full speed and then some, leading Spring Hill to a 64-62 win over arch-rival University of Mobile at Outlaw Recreation Center. Rodriguez led SHC in scoring (23 points), rebounds (eight) and assists (three), as well as emotion.

"We knew this game was going to be about who wanted it more," Rodriguez said. "Both teams were pretty even in scoring and rebounding and all the stats, so we knew it would come down to who played with the most heart, who wanted it more."

Rodriguez scored half the points in a 10-0 run early in the second half to push the Badgers to a 46-33 lead with 13:04 to play.

"We're going to miss her," Spring Hill first-year coach Robin Jeffries said of Rodriguez. "She's a fantastic player. She knows the game, she loves the game and she makes things happen."

Jeffries also credited her team's emotional spark in the second half. "I just told my kids at the half that what was going to win the game was heart," she said. "They really came out and played with heart in the second half. We've had a roller-coaster year, but they've always played with heart."

Rodriguez didn't like spending the final two-plus minutes on the bench after fouling out, but said she didn't worry. "It was hard (to sit), especially in my last home game at Spring Hill, but we have a real close team and I knew my teammates wanted this game as much as I wanted it and they would go out and get it," she said. "I had to let it go and trust them."

Mobile coach Martha Gore-Algernon agreed with Rodriguez and Jeffries as to the difference in the game.

"Our team chemistry and leadership is nil," she said. "That's it. ... Spring Hill played with great heart and they played a great game. They had leadership and chemistry and it showed. We were just lucky it was so close at the end. They made the shots and the free throws and they made the plays. They did everything they could to win the game and they deserved to win."

The Badgers (8-18, 8-10 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) also got 18 points from Keisha Forbes. Mobile (19-11, 11-7) was led by Emmerentia Ledwaba and Rheonda Leary with 11 points each.

Both teams will play in the GCAC tournament this week, with Mobile hosting LSU-Shreveport for a 7:00 tip-off on Wednesday, February 28th.