Coker Falls to Catawba in Wednesday SAC Action

By: Jake Miller

SALISBURY, N.C.- Coker women's basketball fell on the road to Catawba in South Atlantic Conference action Wednesday night (Jan. 25).

The teams played an evenly matched opening quarter, with the frame ending tied at 10-all.

The second quarter saw the teams trade runs, with Catawba getting the edge 30-24 going to the half. After Catawba jumped out to a 17-12 lead in the second, Coker called timeout and re-grouped. Coker would go on a 9-5 run to put the pressure back on the home team, starting with a jumper from Sydney Shull. Two straight buckets from the home team would make it 21-14, before Coker would storm back with six in a row. Caitland Considine pulled up to hit a mid-range jumper, before Iresha Cooper cut the deficit to three with a layup in the paint. Another bucket in close from Cooper would force a Catawba timeout with the Navy and Gold trailing 21-20 with four minutes left in the quarter. Cooper scored on her third straight possession out of the timeout to put Coker ahead briefly, before the Indians countered with a 9-2 run to end the half. 

Catawba was able to outshoot Coker in the third, shooting 38 percent from the floor and making five three-pointers. The home team took a 51-38 lead to the final 10 minutes.

Coker was able to hold the Indians without a bucket until almost halfway through the fourth quarter, before the Indians took over on the offensive glass and were able to get second chance points on key possessions down the stretch.

Cooper led the Cobras with 12 points and 10 rebounds to complete a double-double, while Shull and Lindsey Adams added eight points apiece. As a team, Coker shot 34.5 percent to Catawba's 30.6, had the edge in the paint 26-18 and won the battle off the bench 14-13.

The Cobras are back at home on Saturday (Jan. 29) when they host Brevard in South Atlantic Conference action. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 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.