HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Lady Cobras basketball team broke out of their 11 game slump on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a dominating 88-65 win over the Converse College Valkyries. The Conference Carolinas win, is the first for Coker in 29 days, have last won back on Jan. 7 at home against St. Andrews.

The win improves the Lady Cobras to 3-17 overall and 2-13 in the conference, while the loss drops the Valkyries to 3-16 on the year and 3-11 in the conference.

Coker entered the game firing on all cylinders and quickly jumped out to an early lead, only once in the entire game did the Lady Cobras relinquish that lead, but they were quick to regain it and end the first half up 36-28.

A 20-4 run to start the second half gave Coker its largest lead of the game and gave them the momentum needed to secure the victory.

The Lady Cobras outshot Converse in nearly all categories but one, free throw percentage. Coker shot 56.6 percent from the floor compared to Converse’s 33.8 percent, Coker was also 4-for-9 (44.4%) from 3-point range, while Converse was just 6-for-26 (23.1%). The Valkyries did outshoot the Lady Cobras from the charity stripe, hitting 75.0 percent of their free throws compared to Coker’s 68.6 percent.

Henna Koponen (Vantaa, Finland) had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Kiesha Beavers (Williamstown, N.J.) also put in 23 points, had five steals and dished out five assists. Jasmine Alston (Sumter, S.C.) was the third player in double figures for Coker with 12 points and three assists and Megan Thomas (Cresskill, N.J.) handed out a game high 10 assists. As a team the Lady Cobras moved the ball extremely well throughout the game, racking up 23 total assists.

Converse had four players reach the double digit mark, led by Jessica McMahan and Ashley Arff, who each had 14 points. McMahan also added seven rebounds to her stat totals. Katie Vaughn had 12 points and five rebounds, while Ashley Day came off the bench to give the Valkyries 10 points and six assists. Morgan Sarcharski pulled down a team high 10 rebounds in the game.

Coker returns to the floor on Monday, Feb. 8, as they hit the road to take on Mount Olive College. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.