The William Carey Women's Basketball Team opened a two-game road swing with a 65-53 victory over SSAC opponent Thomas University Thursday night.
"We overcame a dismal shooting first half to get a big road win'" said Head Coach Tracy English. "Kolton and Shaneal dominated the boards the second half and we got into a better rhythm offensively."
After falling behind 4-0 in the opening minute, Kolten Blakeney and Lead Sutton made back-to-back jumpers to even things. Thomas again took a four-point lead but like before Carey answered with Gabby Gallup evening things up with a layup. Over the final three minutes of the quarter both teams traded shots with the game tied at twelve heading into the second quarter.
The Night Hawks opened the second quarter just like the first but taking a five-point lead after a minute of play. Just like before though, WCU responded, tying the game at seventeen on an Addyson Sherer three pointer. This time the Lady Crusaders took the lead, as Rose Warren and Anna Rose Engle scored six straight points before going into the break, leading 26-22.
The momentum carried over into the third quarter for Carey, as Blakeney and Warren pushed the WCU lead to nine two minutes in. From there the Lady Crusaders extended their lead to 39-27 midway through. Over the next four minutes Carey maintained a comfortable lead but in the final minute the Night Hawks scored six unanswered points to cut the deficit to five at 44-39.
Thomas managed to get within two points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter but over a one-minute span, Shaneal Corpuz, Warren, and Sutton dropped seven straight points to push the Carey lead to 53-44. From there the Lady Crusader offense was in full swing, pushing the lead to as many as fifteen on their way to victory.
"We weren't ourselves in the first half," said Blakeney. "But we came out the second half and looked more like ourselves, sharing the ball and getting the shots we wanted. I knew if we wanted to stay in it, I had to do my part and hit the boards on the offensive end and defensive end."
Kolten Blakeney led the way, finishing with 24 points and a season high of 17 rebounds. Shaneal Corpuz added ten points and twelve rebounds while Rose Warren finished with eleven points and six assists.
Carey is back in action Saturday, as they head to Mobile, Ala. to take the University of Mobile in conference action. Play is set to begin at 12:00 at Pharr Gymnasium.
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