Women's Basketball Battles, but Falls to No. 20 Wingate Wednesday Night

HARTSVILLE, S.C. -  Coker University women's basketball battled, but fell to No. 20 Wingate Wednesday night (Jan. 12) by a score of 59-68 in South Atlantic Conference action.

The teams played to an 8-8 deadlock through the first six minutes, before Wingate outscored Coker 10-4 in the final few minutes of the frame to take an 18-12 lead to the second.

The lead would fluctuate through most of the second quarter, before the Cobras got back within three at 30-27 with three and a half minutes to play in the period. Wingate would take a 36-31 lead to the half.

The Cobras would go an early run in the third quarter to get back within one at 38-37, before the teams traded buckets and end up tied at 47 with two and a half minutes to play in the frame. Wingate would score the final five points of the quarter to take a 52-47 lead to the fourth quarter.

Wingate would stretch its lead to double-digits early in the fourth, before the Cobras would get back within single digits with five and a half minutes to play. The teams would battle through the final few minutes until the final horn.

The Cobras shot 39.3 percent (24-61) from the field in the game, including seven three-pointers. The Cobras were paced by 20 points from Saquita Joyner, while Ahlea Myers added 12 points and Abigail Keesling also contributed 10. Three other Cobras added points in the game. Joyner also paced the Cobras with 10 rebounds on the night, while eight others were active on the glass in the game. Ashauntee Nelson dished out a team-high five assists in the game, while Myers also helped on four buckets in the game. Keesling and Valicia Demeritte chipped in assists in the game. Joyner led the Cobras with four steals in the game, while Myers, Keesling and Raya Coley each had one steal in the game. Demeritte and Haley McClure each registered one block in the game.

Coker returns to the DeLoach Center on Saturday (Jan. 15) to face Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.

McDonald's Player of the Game - Saquita Joyner