Women's Basketball Battles, but Falls at Queens (N.C.) on Saturday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Coker University women's basketball battled, but fell at Queens (N.C.) on Saturday (Dec. 11) by a score of 49-46.

Coker led 13-7 after a low-scoring first quarter, before the Cobras would go on to hold a lead for the majority of the second quarter. The Royals would take their first lead of the quarter at 20-19 with 2:40 to play in the second, before the teams played to a 22-22 deadlock with 1:20 to play in the first half. The Royals would score a bucket at the buzzer to take a 26-24 lead to the half.

Queens would hold a lead for the majority of the third quarter, extending their lead to as many as eight in the frame. Coker would trim the deficit to two with two and a half minutes to play in the frame, before Queens would take a 41-36 lead to the fourth.

Queens re-gained their eight-point lead early in the fourth, before the Cobras were able to trim the deficit to four with two and a half minutes to play. An Ahlea Myers jumper with 17 seconds got Coker back within two, but the Royals were able to hang on for the conference victory.

Valicia Demeritte led the Cobras with a career-high 15 points, also pacing Coker with a career-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double. Ashauntee Nelson added 12 points, while six others contributed points in the game. Coker out-rebounded Queens 54-46 in the game, led by 12 boards from Demeritte and also a career-high 10 rebounds from Diamond Jackson. Eight other Cobras were active on the glass in the game. Mariah Mitchem and Myers each dished out two assists in the game, while Nelson and Raya Coley each helped on one Coker bucket in the game. Demeritte, Jackson and Dasia Lambert each registered two steals in the game, while four others added one steal apiece. Demeritte posted two blocks in the game, while Jackson and Lambert each had one block in the game.

The Cobras return to the hardwood on Wednesday (Dec. 15) to host Limestone in South Atlantic Conference action. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. from the DeLoach Center, with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.