Blue Hose Snaps Two-Game Losing Skid as Blease Picks Up 21
CLINTON, S.C. – Sophomore Kerianne Blease (Saluda, S.C.) poured in a career-high 21 points as Blease led four Blue Hose players in double-digit scoring in Presbyterian College’s 74-60 non-conference victory over the All-Stars of Converse College in women’s basketball action Wednesday night.
The W.W. King Academy product was 8-for-13 from the field, including 4-of-7 from downtown, in 26 minutes of action. Blease paced all players in the first half with eight points.
After the All-Stars’ sophomore Sydney Brown (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) opened up the game with a three-pointer to give Converse its only lead of the game, the Blue Hose strung together a 12-0 run to stake a 12-3 lead with 14:06 remaining.
Following back-to-back baskets by the All-Stars, Presbyterian posted its biggest margin of the first half at 21-7. However, down 10 and 3:26 on the clock, Converse rallied to cut the Blue Hose lead to five at halftime as Brown and senior Brandi Crisitiello (Maysville, N.C.) each had four points in an 8-0 All-Star run. Brown led the All-Stars with seven points in the first half.
Sophomore Morgan Johnson (Marietta, Ga.) continued her stellar rebounding for PC as Johnson corralled nine rebounds in the first half. Johnson went on to finish the night with her third double-double of the season on 12 boards, including eight defensive caroms, and 10 points.
The Blue Hose rebuilt their lead back up to 13 (54-41) with 9:29 left in the game behind 11 of Blease’s 13 second half points.
Converse would rally and trim PC’s lead back to five with 3:02 remaining after a Crisitiello layup as the All-Stars held Presbyterian to no field goals for 5:27 and forced the Blue Hose to burn a timeout.
The hopes of Converse to pick up its second win of the season were dashed as the Blue Hose ended the game on a 16-7 run.
Juniors Amy Jones (Warthen, Ga.) and Bridget Takach (Chapin, S.C.) contributed to the win with 15 points each. Takach’s scoring output tonight matched her career-high of 15 in PC’s win over Mars Hill College on January 7, 2006.
Brown finished the night as the All-Stars leading scorer with 17, while senior Lauren Mueller (Foley, Ala.) put up a double-double on 10 caroms, including eight defensive boards, and 10 points. Mueller also had three block shots.
PC returns to action on Saturday when the Blue Hose travels to Asheville, N.C. to face NCAA Division I UNC Asheville at 2 p.m. Converse hosts Queens University of Charlotte on December 4 at 6 p.m.