Bryan Women's Basketball Led by Lindsey and Lawson in 73-53 Win

Dayton, TN -- A good crowd was on hand in Dayton, Tennessee for a Wednesday night game of close rivals (Dayton and Athens Tennessee) as Bryan College hosted Tennessee Wesleyan on 1/21/26. Bryan came into the game with 14-3 overall record and 11-1 in AAC play, while Tennessee Wesleyan University came in with record of 6-11 overall and 5-7 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. Bryan College was led by Matt Bollant, who in 23 seasons has won 454 games against 274 losses. in 2023-24 season, Bryan went 15-13. Bollant in in his second stint at Bryan and has accomplished several tournament victories, including NCAA, NIT and NAIA and NACAA. Bollant began his head coaching journey at Bryan back in 2002 and his teams enjoyed a 134-36 record in five seasons. Matt returned to Bryan in May of 2024.

Coaching Tennessee Wesleyan University for the game was Jason Smith, who also was a former Bryan College Women's basketball coach from 2011 through 2021, where he accumulated 219 wins against 85 losses and won five AAC Regular Season Championships and four AAC tournament championships and guided Bryan to six NAIA National Tournament appearances. Smith finished strong at Bryan with a 78-7 overall record and perfect 64-0 record in conference. Smith was hired at Tennessee Wesleyan in May of 2024 and is in his second season. In the 2023-2024 season, Smiths Lady Bulldogs went 18-13 overall and 12-10 in conference play.

Starting for Tennessee Wesleyan on the night was # 3 Julia Howard, # 23 Jalaya Lindsey, # 1 Sloan Carpenter, # 2 Talley Lawson and # 12 Camryn Brown. Starting for Bryan College on the night was # 1 Alyssa Petty, # 21 Kaylynn Walls, # 32 Kadee Ferrell, # 5 Autum Davis and # 24 Molly Brown. Tennessee Wesleyan has 10 players from the local area, including 3 from Meigs County. The team is very young with only one senior, Courtney Berry. Bryan College only has two seniors on their roster and has five local players, and all 15 players on their roster graduated from Tennessee high schools.

Tennessee Wesley came into the game with two players averaging double figures per game, with Jalaya Lindsey leading the team with 13.3 points per game and Camryn Brown averaging 11.7 points per game. Jalaya is shooting 3-points baskets at a 44.7% pace on 17-28 in all games as well as 52% overall field goal percentage. Molly Brown lead Bryan players with 13.3 points per game and six other player average between 6.1 and 8 points per game and 12 players average double figures in game minutes per game played. In an interesting look at offensive stats only, both teams percents for shooting, 3 pt and free throws in very close to the same, with Bryan averaging about 8 points per game more than TWU and about 3 reb per game more 38-35 rebounds per game.

Bryan took the early lead in the game and worked the inside game well to take the 11-4 lead and kept a 8–10-point edge until late in the first quarter; Bryan put on a run to push a 19-11 lead up to 28-11 at quarter's end. Second quarter was actually a 14-13 TWU advantage for a 41-25 Bryan lead. Second half scoring went to Bryan 32 to 28 for the final 20-point advantage at 73-53. Three Lady Lions were in double figures with Alyssa Petty, Kadee Ferrell and Molly Brown scoring at 13, 12 and 11 points. Ferrell and Kaylynn Walls led Bryan in rebounding with 9 and 8 points respectively. Jalaya Lindsey and Lawson Talley led Tennessee Wesleyan with 10 points each. For the game, TWU shot 37.5 % from field and 22.7 % from 3-point line while hitting 12-17 free throws for 70.6%. Bryan shot 38.9% from field on 28-72 shots, and hit 26.9 % from 3-point line with 7-26 shots, while hitting 10-20 free throws for 50%.

Bryan will be on the road for a Friday game on January 23rd at Spartanburg, South Carolina against Spartanburg Methodist College with 2 pm game time. On Saturday, January 24th, TWU will host Bluefield University from Bluefield, Virginia with 2 pm tip.

Game video of this and men's game is available on youtube link highlighted: Bryan vs TWU 1/21/26

Full game state available at: Full stats Twu website.