Saturday, January 7, 2006
HOPKINS PROPELS PRESBYTERIAN TO 88-72 VICTORY
OVER MARS HILL
CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College freshman forward Sharie Hopkins (Chesapeake, Va.) led four players in double figures with a career-high 27 points as the Lady Blue Hose defeated Mars Hill College 88-72 in South Atlantic Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center. Today’s game was the SAC opener for both schools. Presbyterian improves to 12-2 overall, 1-0 SAC, while Mars Hill falls to 10-4 overall, 0-1 SAC.
The first half was highlighted by six ties and five lead changes. Hopkins gave the Lady Blue Hose the lead for good at 11-10 lead on a free throw at the 13:04 mark. PC extended the lead to seven points at 22-15 at the 9:48 mark on a layup by Hopkins. Mars Hill would retake the lead late in the half behind the play of senior guard Kristi Ferris (Knoxville, Tenn.) who would score 12 first half points. The Lions would score the last four points of the half to take a 38-36 leading into intermission.
Junior guard Abby DeBusk (New Tazewell, Tenn.) joined Ferris for Lion scoring honors with nine points and four boards. PC senior forward Rebecca Wessinger (Laurens, S.C.) would lead all scorers with 13 first half points, while Hopkins added nine points.
In the second half, Mars Hill extended their lead to its largest margin of eight points at 50-42 with 15:58 to play on a pair of free throws by senior forward Lindsay Jones (Crossville, Tenn.). The Lady Blue Hose responded with a 17-9 run over the next five minutes to tie the game at 59-59 on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Amy Jones (Warthen, Ga.). Hopkins and Jones would score back-to-back jumpers to give PC the lead for good at 68-66 with 8:07 to play. PC would outscore the Lions 20-6 the rest of the game to secure a 88-72 victory.
Hopkins scored 18 of her game-high 27 points in the second half, while Wessinger scored 22 points and sophomore guard Bridget Takach (Chapin, S.C.) added 15 points. Jones rounded out PC’s double-figure scorers with 10 point and seven assists.
Mars Hill was led by DeBusk who scored a team-best 18 points while Jones chipped in 15 points. Ferris, who scored 12 points in the first half, was held to only two points in the second to finish with 14 points. Freshman guard Ariel Okunowo (Decatur, Ga.) added 13 points and four assists.
PC travels to Wingate, N.C. to Wednesday, January 11 to face Wingate University at 6:00 pm while Mars Hill hosts Tusculum College on Wednesday at 6:00 pm.