ROCK HILL, S.C. - The Coker University women's basketball team took down Division I Winthrop University in an exhibition game on Wednesday (Nov. 24) by a score of 51-44.

The Cobras jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the first quarter highlighted by a 6-0 run, before Winthrop closed the gap to 15-8 to end the opening frame. 

Winthrop out-scored Coker 12-6 in the second quarter, but the Cobras still held the 21-20 lead at the half.

The teams played to a 32-32 deadlock through the first few minutes of the third quarter, before Winthrop went ahead 37-32 with three and a half minutes to play in the quarter, before back-to-back Abigail Keesling three-pointers put Coker ahead 38-37 with under a minute to play. Winthrop would split a pair of free throws to send the game to the fourth quarter tied at 38.

Winthrop took an early four-point lead in the fourth quarter, before the Cobras would swing things in their favor with a three-point play from Ahlea Myers and a bucket from Saquita Joyner. The Cobras would then stretch their lead to five with six minutes to play, before the lead grew to six with under three minutes to play. The Cobras would hang on for the win from there.

Mariah Mitchem led the way with a career-high 12 points, while seven other Cobras scored in the game. Hope Richardson pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to lead Coker, while nine others were active on the glass for the Cobras. Myers dished out a team-high three assists, while Richardson added two and three others each helped on one Coker bucket in the game. Richardson and Mitchem each had two steals in the game, while four others each registered one. Richardson posted two blocks in the game for Coker, while Mitchem and Diamond Jackson each had one.  

The Cobras return to the hardwood at Lincoln Memorial on Saturday (Nov. 27) in South Atlantic Conference action. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. from Harrogate, Tenn., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.