Second Quarter Surge Pushes Coker Past Mars Hill

By: Jake Miller

MARS HILL, N.C.- Coker women's basketball used some first half momentum to take down Mars Hill 76-58 in South Atlantic Conference action on Monday (Jan. 9).

The teams played to a 15-15 tie after one quarter, with Lindsey Adams tying the game for the Cobras on a three-pointer in the dying seconds.  

The Navy and Gold started the second quarter with the momentum of Adams's three-pointer, and would carry it to a 13-0 run and a 23-7 margin in the quarter. Shay Jackson notched a layup as the first basket of the second, before Adams would knock down a pair of free throws. Jackson contributed another bucket, and the next four points came from Iresha Cooper. Kendra Lambert got in on the scoring knocking one down from long range, and before the halfway mark Coker had sprung to a 28-17 lead. With inside four minutes remaining, Lyric Levester was able to keep the lead at 12 with a bucket from close range. Jackson, Cooper, Lambert and Levester would each contribute toward the end of the run to give Coker a 38-22 lead at the break.

Coker maintained a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter, with the lead fluctuating to as few as 11 and peaking at the 21-point lead Coker had going to the fourth. The Cobras were able to match Mars Hill's scoring in the quarter while maintaining their double digit lead, with the defense preventing the Lions from going on any sort of offensive run in the second half.

Cooper led all scorers with 21 in the game, while Caitland Considine chipped in 12. Jackson poured in 11, Lambert added nine and five other Cobras made their mark on the scoresheet. As a team, Coker shot 43.3 percent from the field, while generating 28 points off of turnovers. In translating defense to offense, Coker collected 13 steals to Mars Hill's four. The Cobras bench outdid their counterparts 34-17 and Coker outscored Mars Hill in the paint 40-24.

The Cobras will hit the hardwood again on Wednesday (Jan. 11) when they travel to Newberry for a South Atlantic Conference contest. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.