Georgia Southern 63, UNC Greensboro 50
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The UNC Greensboro women’s basketball team had its two-game win streak snapped with a 60-53 loss to Georgia Southern in Southern Conference action at Fleming Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
UNCG (3-11, 1-2 SoCon) was led by Kemena Brooks who tallied a game-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, for her fifth consecutive game in double figures. The Accokeek, MD native was 3-of-5 from the three-point line and was 2-of-2 from the line, extending her consecutive free throws made streak to 16. Freshman Monique Floyd was also in double figures for UNCG with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. Brooks and Frazier each had a team-high six rebounds in the loss.
“We knew that this was going to be a tough game coming in,” said head coach Lynne Agee. “We didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball today and we didn’t have an answer for them from behind the three-point line. We have a short turnaround before playing College of Charleston and we will have to make some adjustments.”
The Spartans shot 31.6 percent for the game on 18-of-57 shooting from the field and shot 68.8 percent from the free throw line on 11-of-16 shooting from the charity stripe. Georgia Southern held a slight rebounding advantage with 41 rebounds to UNCG’s 38.
Georgia Southern (6-8, 2-1 SoCon) was led by Carolyn Whitney and Tiffany Brown, who were both in double figures. Whitney had 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and was 3-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Brown contributed 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and was 3-of-7 from behind the arc. Shawanda Atwood and Ashley Melson each added seven rebounds in the win.
Both teams came out cold in the second half and it was nearly five minutes before the first bucket was scored. The Spartans were able to pick up a little momentum with a bucket from sophomore Lakiah Hyson and two big defensive plays on the other end. UNCG was able to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since early in the game with free throws from Jasmine Dixon. On the following possession, Ashley Ling took the ball coast-to-coast to cut the lead to 39-32 midway through the half.
The Lady Eagles wouldn’t let the Spartans get closer and used a quick 6-0 run to push their lead back to 46-34 at the 7:54 mark of the second half. Brooks hit two consecutive three-pointers but the Spartans couldn’t stop GSU’s Whitney, who had three consecutive three-pointers for nine points in a 1:15 minute span. UNCG got as close as 10 points in the final five minutes but wouldn’t get any closer as Georgia Southern snapped their two-game losing streak.
Georgia Southern came out with the hot hand early and opened the game with a 10-2 run before Brooks hit a three-pointer out of a timeout and coupled with a basket from Frazier, UNCG was able to cut the lead to 12-8 and pick up some momentum.
The Spartans took their first lead of the game with a layup from Agne Girstautaite but the Lady Eagles got a bucket from Ashley Rivens to end UNCG’s 12-2 run to tie the game at 14-14 midway through the half. Georgia Southern went on a 10-2 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers to take a 27-18 lead with just under seven minutes remaining and went into the break with a 35-23 lead.
UNCG concludes its two-game homestand on Monday when they take on College of Charleston. First tip is set for 3:00 pm at Fleming Gymnasium. Georgia Southern visits Elon Monday night at 7:00 p.m.
Western Carolina 71, Davidson 67
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Western Carolina's Lauren Powell scored 18 points and hit four 3-pointers, three of them in the second half, to lead the Catamounts to a 71-67 Southern Conference women's basketball victory over Davidson Saturday afternoon at Belk Arena.
Mercedes Robinson posted 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Davidson.
The double-double was her second straight and sixth of the season. The sophomore combo of Julia Paquette and Alex Thompson each scored eight points. The Wildcats saw their six-game home winning streak dating back to last year come to an end and fell to 4-1 on the season.
Davidson trailed 69-67 and set up an inbounds play after a held ball with four seconds left. The 'Cats got the ball to Mandy Halbersleben in the lane, but her jumper from the left block rolled off the rim, and Katie Hamilton was whistled for an intentional foul on the rebound with under a second to play.
After a nip-and-tuck second half, Western Carolina opened a narrow 61-57 edge late in the game. Danielle Hemerka hit a 3-pointer from the corner, but Powell answered with a trey from the wing. After Halbersleben hit a putback layup, Chevon Keith answered with a driving bucket to make the margin 66-62 with 2:47 to play.
Robinson was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound and hit two free throws with 1:47 left, but Ashley Pellom hit two from the charity stripe after a defensive rebound to push the margin back to four points.
Hamilton hit a 3-pointer from the left wing to make the score 68-67 with 56.7 seconds left. Heather Swayne missed a 3-pointer from the wing, and Honna Housley pulled down the rebound. After a timeout with 26.5 seconds remaining, the 'Cats tried to get the ball to Hamilton in the post, but it was stolen by the Catamounts, forcing Davidson to foul.
Monique Dawson put Western Carolina ahead by two by hitting 1-of-2 from the line to set up the final Davidson possession.
The Wildcats used a 9-3 run to gain some separation and open a 28-19 lead on a Kelsey Cary layup with 8:58 left in the first half.
Davidson led 36-28 late in the frame following a Robinson layup, but a Powell 3-pointer sparked a 9-4 Western Carolina spurt, leaving the 'Cats halftime advantage at 40-37. Davidson had nine steals in the half and scored 16 points off 12 turnovers.
Western Carolina turned the tables early in the second half and took its defense up a notch. The Catamounts gave up two field goals and caused five turnovers through the first 6:50 of the period.
Part of the problem was foul trouble on the Wildcat ball-handlers as Housley and Thompson each had three. Davidson dug in defensively as well and was able to maintain its lead thanks to consecutive fast-break layups by Housley and Paquette.
The Wildcats return to action when they host SoCon opponent Chattanooga at 7:00 p.m. Monday in John M. Belk Arena. Western Carolina travels to Boone to battle Appalachian State at 7:00 p.m. Monday.
College of Charleston 44, Elon 40
ELON, N.C. ? Jill Furstenburg tallied 12 points and five assists and Nikki Williams recorded 11 rebounds and three steals, lifting the College of Charleston to a 44-40 Southern Conference women’s basketball triumph over Elon Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym.
Via a 13-6 run, the Cougars (6-7 overall, 2-1 SoCon) transformed an 8-8 tie ? the fourth and final deadlock of the contest ? into a 21-14 halftime advantage, following a jumper by Tonia Gerty with 14 seconds remaining in the first period.
Charleston later stretched its lead to 26-17 on a free throw by Deidra Jones with 15:07 to go in the contest, but the Phoenix (6-8, 2-1) responded with a 9-2 spurt to pull within 28-26 on a three-pointer by Tiffany Davis with 11:45 left.
The Cougars scored eight of the game’s next nine points to extend their edge to 36-27 on a basket by Furstenburg with 7:41 to play. Elon used a 13-6 surge to draw within 42-40 on a bucket by Jess Luedtke with 23 seconds remaining, but could inch no closer as Ashley Scott canned a free throw with 20 ticks left and another one with nine seconds to go.
The Phoenix received a contest-best 13 points and three steals from Davis, 11 boards from Amber Wall and 10 caroms from Kitara McMoore. Shashonna Moore, making her first start of the season and 30th of her career, posted eight points and seven rebounds for Elon.
“We struggled to score in the first half,” Phoenix coach Brenda Paul said. “We played great defense in the first half, but we missed some shots and made some careless turnovers that hurt us. We corrected that at halftime and only had six turnovers in the second half, so I was pleased with that.”
Charleston held Elon to a season-low 14 points in the opening stanza. The Phoenix’s previous season low for a half was 15 points in the second period of a 53-46 loss to North Carolina A&T on Nov. 19.
The Cougars earned edges in rebounds (42-39), turnovers (15-23), points off turnovers (12-9), second chance points (7-2) and bench points (9-6). Elon outscored Charleston 16-6 in the paint.
The Phoenix fired 33.3 percent (16 of 48) from the field and 42.9 percent (6 of 14) from the free throw line while the Cougars shot 31.6 percent (18 of 57) from the floor and 43.8 percent (7 of 16) from the stripe.
Elon hosts Georgia Southern at 7 p.m. Monday while Charleston visits UNC Greensboro at 3 p.m. Monday.
Chattanooga 68, Appalachian State 55
BOONE, N.C. - The Appalachian State women's basketball team flirted with an upset of the defending Southern Conference champion Chattanooga Lady Mocs, but were unable to finish the game out as the Mountaineers fell, 68-55.
Appalachian (2-11, 0-3 SoCon) used a hot start to keep the game even early on, as Whitney Tossie dished out an assist to Sam Ramirez to open the game, and then hit a pair of free throws to give the Mountaineers a 4-3 lead. The squads evened out at six and eight points apiece before Chattanooga pulled ahead. Tossie finished the contest with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. Ramirez finished with eight points.
The Lady Mocs (11-3, 3-0) led by as many as 15 before the break, at 31-16, and took a 36-23 advantage into the locker room. ASU shot 40.9 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, led by Brittany Mixon, who posted six points on 2-of-4 shooting. The Lady Mocs found 15 first-half points off of offensive rebounds and collected 10 steals as well.
Mixon posted a total of seven points, including three-of-four free throws, and five of the team's 34 rebounds in the contest. Mixon and Whitney Randolph led the team with seven rebounds and added six points and a block for the game.
Shortly after play resumed in the second Tossie poured in six straight points to cut the deficit to nine. At the 12-minute mark, GiGi Thomas connected on a pair of layups before Robin Colbert hit a jumper from the corner to pull ASU within 48-41.
Thomas then nailed a baseline jumper to bring the team within five. On the next possession, Frances Hernandez picked off a pass and took it the distance for a layup to bring the score to 48-45. Hernandez again cut the lead to three, as she laid in an offensive rebound at the 8:30 mark.
With seven to play, Hernandez sank a three to cut the lead to two points following three offensive rebounds. She pickd up her second steal of the game and Tossie put back a miss to tie the game at 52.
Hernandez finished with nine points and knocked down the team's only three-pointer in 11 attempts. Alex Anderson led Chattanooga with 25 points and 11 boards.
UTC fired back with an 11-0 run before Mixon sank a free throw with 2:30 to play to cut the lead back to 10. Brittney Spencer hit a jumper with 90 ticks left but the Apps were unable to make it a single-digit contest the rest of the way. Spencer and Mixon each led the team with three steals.
The Mountaineers return to action on Monday at 7:00 p.m. as Western Carolina visits the High Country. Chattanooga plays at Davidson Monday at 7:00 p.m.
Wofford 78, Furman 71
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Wofford clamped down on defense in the second half and hit shots down-low to garner a 78-71 Southern Conference triumph over Upstate rival Furman Saturday evening inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Spartanburg, S.C. The victory is the Terriers' sixth in a row and second straight in league action.
Both teams came out aggressive on the offensive end during the opening 20 minutes with Wofford (9-4, 2-1 SoCon) hitting 44.4 percent (12-of-27) from the field and Furman knocking down 11-of-24 field goals (45.8 percent). However, the Terriers turned up the intensity on defense in the second stanza and limited the Lady Paladins to just five field goals, on 23 attempts, during the final session.
Wofford's early 4-2 lead was erased by an 8-2 spurt by Furman (4-10, 0-4 SoCon), which was started by a 3-pointer from Kali Holtfreter as the visitors took a 10-6 lead with just over five minutes played. The Terriers, however, answered back with six-straight points of their own, including four by freshman Mahagony Williams, to take a 12-10 lead at 14:21.
Lee Stephens then hit a triple to put the Lady Paladins back on top by one. The teams then traded baskets for the next two minutes before Melissa Liebschwager added another trey to push the Furman advantage to four, 20-16, at the 11:00 minute mark. Stephens would knock down another 3-pointer a minute-and-a-half later to cap a 10-2 Lady Paladin spurt and swell the edge to seven, 23-16.
Six-straight free throws by Wofford trimmed the deficit to one, 23-22, at 7:28, before Sarah Baker countered with a pair to push the lead back to three with 7:06 to play. Sophomore Kelly Dwyer then hit one of the Terriers' only two 3-pointers on the night to tie the game before Furman again scored five in a row to take a 30-25 lead with 4:56 remaining.
Back-to-back layups by sophomore Natalie Gramblin and Williams brought Wofford back to within one, while two charity tosses from senior Kelsi Koenig tied then gave the Terriers a one-point edge, 31-30, with 4:05 showing on the clock. Junior Liz Miller added a pair nearly 20 seconds later and Williams then contributed another set as Wofford used to a 10-0 run to claim a 35-30 lead with 3:30 to play in the half.
Stephens then hit a pair herself, but Miller answered on the next possession with the only other Terrier 3-pointer to keep the lead at six, 38-32. Furman would take over on the foul line, hitting six in a row, including four straight by Sarah Baker, to knot the scoring at 40-40 with a minute left. On the final possession before halftime, Gramblin missed a jumper, but Koenig was in position for the rebound and then hit the put-back as time expired to give Wofford a 42-40 lead at the break.
The Terriers hit the first four field goals of the second half, compared to just a free throw from Furman's Chrissy Phelps, as the hosts built a nine-point cushion, 50-41, with 15:03 to play in the frame. Gramblin connected on 1-of-2 free throws at 12:41 to give Wofford a 10-point edge, the only double-digit lead by either team. The Lady Paladins, however, kept chipping away and embarked on an 18-6 streak to tie the game at 59-59 with 9:18 to play when Katie Agin tossed in a pair of free throws.
Just before Agin's two free throws, Stephens hit another 3-pointer at 9:49 which would be the final field goal Furman would make the remainder of the game.
After Stephens put the Lady Paladins back up two, 61-59, with two free throws, consecutive layups by sophomore Kathlyn Varno provided the Terriers with the lead once more, 63-61. Gramblin then stole the ball in the backcourt and raced to the other end for a layup and four-point Wofford advantage, 65-61, with 7:02 to play.
The teams traded free throws before Miller intercepted another backcourt pass and hit a fast break layup, plus the foul shot after being fouled, to increase the Terrier lead back to seven, 72-65, with 4:40 remaining. After a foul was called on Wofford and a technical foul situation, Stephens made all four charity tosses to cut the edge back to three, 72-69, with 4:25 left.
Williams added another layup and Agin's free throws at 3:46 proved to be the final Furman points. The Terriers iced the triumph with four free throws of their own, with the final three coming from Gramblin.
Wofford has won six straight games for the first time since the Terriers tallied a six-game winning streak from Feb. 2, 1989, to Dec. 2, 1989. That run overlapped two seasons, including the 1988-89 campaign as Wofford was competing as an NCAA Division II program for the first time. The Terriers have had only six winning streaks of at least six games throughout their history.
Miller led the charge and a trio of Wofford players in double figures with 19 points, including a team-high eight free throws. She also paced the squad with four steals. Gramblin chipped in a career-best 13 points, which included a 7-of-9 performance from the foul line. Williams finished with 12 points, one shy of her career-high outings.
Junior Kate Dempsey nearly recorded her second career double-double with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Stephens led all players with 24 points, including a 13-of-14 effort from the foul line. She also had a game-high six steals. Baker added 14 points and a team-best six boards.
The game featured 57 fouls, while the Terriers converted 26 free throws and the Lady Paladins knocked down 33-of-37 attempts from the line.
Wofford will step out of Southern Conference action for the final time this season when it travels to Lexington, Ky., for a 7 p.m. Monday matchup with Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.