Saturday, January 28, 2006
LADY BLUE HOSE ROLL PAST CATAWBA 80-60
CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College placed four starters in double figures led by senior Rebecca Wessinger's game-high 17 points en route to a 80-60 victory over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center. With the win, Presbyterian improves to 17-3 overall (6-1 SAC), while Catawba falls to 6-14 overall (1-6 SAC).
The Lady Blue Hose jumped out to an early 11-4 lead at the16:07 mark of the first half behind a pair of baskets from both freshman Sharie Hopkins (Chesapeake, Va.) and senior Wesley Campbell. Catawba trimmed the lead to 11-8 on a jumper by senior Hannah Davis (Williamsburg, Va.) at the 15:26 mark, but PC went on a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to pull ahead 23-12 with 10:02 remaining on a pair of free throws by senior Cameron Cook (Greensboro, N.C.).
The Lady Blue Hose lead would increase to as many as 17 points on two occasions down the stretch, the last coming at 40-23 on a pair of charity shots from sophomore Amy Jones (Warthen, Ga.). Catawba’s junior Tamekia Foster (Chesapeake, Va.) hit a jumper with :16 seconds remaining to trim PC’s lead to 40-25 at the half. Hopkins and Wessinger led the way for PC with nine first half points apiece, while Foster led the Indians with eight points.
PC opened the second half on a 13-5 run to push the lead to 53-33 with 14:49 mark remaining on a three-pointer by freshman Kerianne Blease (Marietta, Ga.). Catawba fought back midway through the half behind a 15-5 run to trim the lead to 66-59 on a three-pointer by Davis. The Lady Indians would not get any closer the rest of the way as PC ended the game on a 14-1 run to pull away and win 80-60.
PC’s Wessinger led all scorers with 17 points on six-of-13 shooting from the floor, while Hopkins added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lady Blue Hose. Campbell tallied a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds and Jones rounded out the double figure scorers for the Lady Blue Hose with 10 points, eight assists, five boards, and three steals.
Catawba was led on the day by sophomore Hillary Hampton (Salisbury, N.C.) who tallied a team-best 16 points and added five boards and three assists. Foster chipped in a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards, while freshman Brittany Higgins (Takoma Park, Md.) added 10 points and two assists.