By: Jake Miller

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Coker women's basketball fell 59-53 to Queens in South Atlantic Conference action on Monday (Dec. 12).

Both teams started out slow shooting, but Coker had the 14-8 lead after a defensive opening frame.

The Cobras started the second quarter with a hot hand, extending their lead to as many as ten. The Cobras had a steady lead for most of the frame, but a 10-3 Queens run that spanned the final two minutes of the half put the home team up 26-25 at the break. 

Coker opened the second half on a 9-2 run that started with a Caitland Considine jumper. Terrika Foster would pick off a pass on the following possession, score the breakaway layup, and complete the pair of free throws as a result of the intentional foul. Iresha Cooper would continue the run with a jumper, while the run lasted for the first three minutes of the third quarter. Queens countered with a run of their own and took a 40-39 lead to the fourth quarter.

Both teams played solid defense to start the final quarter, and both teams traded buckets as the frame went along. After starting the quarter within one point, Coker was able to keep it a one-possession game for most of the frame. The Royals were able to ice the game from the free throw line, making a total of eight free throws in the quarter and having as big a lead as eight.

Cooper totaled a team-high 14 points in the contest, while Kaleah Hires also tallied double figures with 10. The Cobras registered 24 points in the paint, 23 from the bench and outscored the home team on second-chance points 10-6. 

The Cobras will return home on Wednesday (Dec. 14) to take on the Anderson University Trojans. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. at the DeLoach Center. Tickets for the game are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students.