Story Courtesy Davidson sports information
Davidson 71, College of Charleston 57
DAVIDSON, NC - The Davidson women's basketball team returned home for the first time since Dec. 10 and gave its young crowd a lot to cheer about in forcing College of Charleston into 26 turnovers and holding them to one free throw as the Wildcats won their fourth straight, 71-57, on Education Day at the Belk Arena Tuesday afternoon. The Wildcats moved to .500 on the year at 6-6 and improved its Southern Conference mark to 2-1. The Cougars dropped their fifth straight, fourth on the road, falling to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in SoCon play.
Over 1,000 students and teachers were in attendence as part of the Education Day, a promotion put together by the Davidson marketing department. Before the game, the students were treated to a few classes in the athletic department and a feel of what college life is all about.
Junior Jessica Mitchell (Wilkesboro, N.C.) got the crowd on their feet early as she gave Davidson a 13-7 lead on a jumper from the wing with 14:00 left in the half. Mitchell was one of four players to score in double-figures as she dropped in 10 points, along with four assists and four steals.
After the Cougars moved to within one-point, 13-12, on a three-ball by Anne Hunter, the Wildcats went on a 12-4 run, capped off by a jumper from freshman Mercedes Robinson (Baltimore, Md.), and had a lead of 25-16 with 3:32 to go on the clock. Five different players scored during the run, including back-to-back threes from sophomores Danielle Hemerka (Blackwood, N.J.) and Honna Housley (Riceville, Tenn.).
Davidson then got back-to-back jumpers by senior Janell Crayton (Atlanta, Ga.) and junior Tia Washington (Charlotte, N.C.) in the closing seconds on the first half and the Wildcats had its biggest lead going into halftime at 35-22. Davidson shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) in the first half and forced 14 of the Cougars 26 turnovers in the half as well.
Coming out of halftime, College of Charleston got back into the contest with a 9-2 run to start the new period and were within six, 37-31, with 17:14 left in the game. Davidson maintained at least a five-point lead till the 10:42 mark when Erica Irick moved the Cougars to within three-points, 47-44, on a jumper from the corner.. Irick finished with a game-high 20 points, 18 of those coming in the second half, on 9-of-18 shooting.
The Wildcats responded though, pushing the lead back out to eight points, 52-44, on a layup by Washington.
The Cougars came right back and used one last charge to cut the Wildcats lead down to one-point, 56-55. College of Charleston went on an 11-4 run and forced Davidson to call a timeout at 4:52. College of Charleston was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field during the run.
After head coach Annette Watts got her troops regrouped, Davidson used a 15-3 run over the final four minutes of play, going 9-for-10 at free throw line during the stretch for its second SoCon win of the year at 71-57. Mitchell hit 5-for-6 at line to lead the charge and Davidson as a team finished 18-for-26.
College of Charleston was held to one free throw attempt in the second half, its only trip to the line for game, after coming into the contest third in the SoCon at 71.3 percent from the charity stripe.
Washington and Crayton each finished with 16 points apiece and were a combined 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Washington dished out a team-high five assists, while Crayton had a team-high eight rebounds. Junior Brynn Kelly (Spokane, Wash.) was the fourth player in double-digits with 10 points.
Sarah Moye matched Irick in double-figures by finishing with a double-double, 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Cougars shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field in the second half, while winning the rebounding margin 38-32.