LAURINBURG, NC—Sophomore April Johnson (McColl, SC) scored a team-high 13 points including the go ahead basket with nine seconds left in regulation to lift host St. Andrews past Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference rival Coker College, 72-68, in women’s basketball on Monday in Harris Court.

The Knights stay in the hunt for a top-four spot in the CVAC standings by improving to 10-10 overall and 8-7 in the conference. The Lady Cobras fell to 5-16 and 4-11.

St. Andrews jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead in the first four minutes that included three-pointers by juniors Ashley Mitchell (Washington, D.C.) and April Henderson (Woodbridge, VA). Coker pulled to within one during the half, but the Knights maintained the lead throughout the opening 20 minutes. SAPC held a 38-33 halftime advantage.

The Knights came out of the locker room with a 7-0 run that was capped by a senior Tamerial Coward (La Grange, NC) conventional three-point play to give St. Andrews its largest lead of the game, 45-33.

The Lady Cobras climbed all the way back with a 21-9 run over the next six-plus minutes to even the score at 54 apiece. St. Andrews maintained a slim lead for the next couple of minutes but four made free throws and a sophomore Tyesha Ervin (Darlington, SC) field goal with 3:55 remaining catapulted Coker into its first lead, 65-64.

Trailing by two, junior Karen Foggie (Charlotte, NC) connected on a jumper while being fouled. Foggie converted on the free throw to put the Knights back on top, 68-67, with 2:48.

After more than two minutes of scoreless action, sophomore Lady Cobra Tara Nelson (Rochester Hills, MI) made 1-of-2 free throws to square everything at 68-68 with 40 ticks left. With the shot clock running down, senior Crista Henderson’s (Prince George, VA) three-point attempt missed but Johnson came up with the big offensive rebound and put back with nine seconds left.

Coming out of a Coker timeout, Nelson was called for the traveling violation causing the Lady Cobras to foul. Mitchell sank both free throws with 1.6 left to give the Knights its final four point cushion.

Johnson just missed her first double-double of the season with 13 points, eight boards and three blocks. C. Henderson and sophomore Jessy Perkins (Goldsboro, NC) followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Mitchell dished out a season-high 11 assists while C. Henderson swiped five steals.

Senior Rachel Kolbeck (Santa Paula, CA) scored a game-high 17 points and made four steals for the Lady Cobras. Freshman Deborah Wilson (Salters, SC) added 12 and Nelson had 11.

St. Andrews hosts non-conference Converse College on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. while Coker visits CVAC foe Limestone on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.