Saturday, January 21, 2006
Presbyterian Women Race By Lenoir-Rhyne, 78-61
PC remains in a three-way tie for first place in the league
HICKORY, N.C. – The Presbyterian College Women's Basketball Team (15-3, 4-1 SAC), behind a strong second half, defeated Lenoir-Rhyne College (8-10, 1-4 SAC), 78-61, in a South Atlantic Conference game Saturday evening in Shuford Gymnasium. With the victory, the Lady Blue Hose remained in a first-place tie with Carson-Newman and Wingate atop the league standings. Presbyterian also snapped a six-game losing steak to the Bears.
PC, ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Poll, had four players score in double figures led by senior forward Rebecca Wessinger's (Laurens, S.C.) 17 points and rallied from a 40-36 halftime deficit to out-score L-R, 42-21, after the break en route to the win. Senior forward Wesley Campbell (Greenville, S.C.) added 15 points in a reserve role for the Lady Blue Hose, who won its third straight game. Senior center Cameron Cook (Greensboro, N.C.) and sophomore guard Bridget Takach (Chapin, S.C.) each added 13 points apiece.
Lenoir-Rhyne senior forward Shannon Jones (Warrenton, N.C.) led the Bears with 16 points and nine rebounds while freshman forward Ashlei Helton (Icard, N.C.) added 10 points off the bench and sophomore guard Leah Barrier (Morganton, N.C.) finished with nine points and nine assists (all in the first half).
L-R hit five of its first seven three pointers in building a 12-point lead (34-22) with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Lady Blue Hose closed the half with a 14-6 run culminated by Wessinger's trey with two seconds left.
The second half was dominated by the Lady Blue Hose. After giving up a lay-up to Jones 21 seconds into the second half, PC held Lenoir-Rhyne without a point for the next seven and a half minutes and without a field goal for close to nine minutes. In that span, PC would put together a 24-7 run to take a 60-49 advantage with nine and a half minutes remaining and would lead by as many as 21.
The Lady Blue Hose defense forced the Bears into 27 turnovers and 29 percent (six-of-21) shooting after intermission. PC continued its dominance on the backboards, holding a 36-31 advantage including an impressive 18-10 margin on the offensive glass.
Presbyterian College travels to Greeneville, Tenn., to play Tusculum College in its next league contest while Lenoir-Rhyne takes on Newberry College in Newberry, S.C. Both contests begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.