WINGATE, N.C. - The Coker University women's basketball team fell in its South Atlantic Conference opener at Wingate on Tuesday night (Nov. 26) by a score of 59-49.
Wingate would lead 16-14 after one quarter, thanks to a buzzer-beater three-pointer from Bryanna Troutman. Coker would jump out to an early 8-3 lead, before Wingate would come back to tie things at 8-8 with four minutes to play in the first quarter. After playing to a 10-10 tie, Wingate would knock down three-pointers on two of its final three possessions in the frame to take its lead to the second.
Wingate would lead 33-25 at the half after winning the second quarter 19-9. The two teams would battle bucket for bucket to a 24-24 tie, before a quick six unanswered by Wingate would put the Bulldogs ahead 31-24 at the three-minute mark. Wingate would net the final two points of the half on a layup from Jasmine Stephen with 1:46 to play in the quarter.
Coker won the third quarter 14-11 to trim the deficit to five headed to the final 10 minutes. After Wingate extended their lead back to eight, Coker would get back in the game with a short run to get back within one at 35-34. Wingate would keep Coker at a distance for the next few minutes, before a Jalah Horton layup with 1:09 left in the frame got the Cobras back within five.
Wingate would extend its lead to 10 in the fourth quarter, before Coker would get back within seven with five and a half minutes to play. Wingate would re-gain and hold its double-digit lead on the way to the home victory.
Saquita Joyner posted a double-double to lead the Cobras on the night, with a team-high 14 points and also 10 rebounds. Seven other Cobras contributed points on the night. Hope Richardson posted a career and game-high 15 boards in the contest, while eight other Cobras were also active on the glass. Jalah Horton led the Cobras with three assists on the night, while Ashauntee Nelson had two and four others each had one in the game. Richardson also posted a career-high four blocks on the night, while Nelson, Joyner and Erin Houser also recorded rejections in the game. Nelson led the Cobras with two steals, while Richardson, Houser and Haley Kropp also registered steals in the game.
The Cobras return home to the DeLoach Center on Saturday (Nov. 30) to face Lincoln Memorial in South Atlantic Conference play. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.