By: Jake Miller

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Coker women's lacrosse used a strong second half to propel past visiting West Virginia Wesleyan for a 21-10 win on Tuesday (Mar. 7).

A pair of goals by Haley McCusker got Coker up 2-0 less than 10 minutes into the game, before the Bobcats stashed one home to cut into the Coker lead. Faith Kent gave Coker a two-goal edge at the 11-minute mark, before West Virginia Wesleyan responded yet again. Kent would go back-to-back with Marabeth Durden to put the home team up 5-2, before the Bobcats would rattle off two in a row to make it a 5-4 game. Durden would pick up the helper on Kaitlyn Kimball's first marker of the season, which was followed by goals from McCusker and Durden to close out the scoring for the Navy and Gold in the first half. The Cobras led 8-5 at the break.

McCusker started the second half faster than she did the first, and stashed home her fourth goal just 10 seconds into the half. After a Bobcat goal got the game back to three goals, Kent netted two in a row to get Coker back up by five. Two West Virginia Wesleyan goals would keep the Bobcats in the game, but that would be the last they would get for a while. Coker scored seven times in the middle 10 minutes of the half to ultimately take a commanding 19-8 lead. McCusker, Baker and Kent each tallied two goals during the run, and Jenkins chipped in her first of the contest in the streak.

Kent and McCusker each finished with six goals, while Durden netted a hat trick in the win. Baker and Jenkins each scored twice, and Kimball and Karah Huntsinger each chipped in goals. On the defensive end, Coker controlled ground balls 20-13, with Kimball collecting a team-high four. Coker won the draw control battle 20-12, with Baker and Durden each winning a team-high six. Cassie Williams (4-1) made six saves in the win.

The Cobras are back in action on Saturday (Mar. 11) when they travel to South Atlantic Conference foe Brevard. Opening draw is set for 12:00 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game- Faith Kent