GAFFNEY, S.C. – A quick start by the Chowan Women's Basketball team propelled the Hawks to victory despite a furious comeback by Limestone on Wednesday afternoon on the road, 68-57.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 68, Limestone 57
RECORDS | Chowan 3-3, Limestone 1-3
LOCATION | Gaffney, S.C. (Timken Center)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Chowan shot 53.8% (7-13) from behind the arc and 53.3% (16-30) from the floor in the opening half. The Hawks scored the most points in the first half, 41 points, since scoring 40 points against Glenville State in their opener.
The Hawks put four players in double-figures with Danielle Weldon scoring 17 of her 19 points in the first half. Jordan Pettway dialed up five three-pointers for 16 points and tallied seven rebounds.
Mariah Coker chipped in with 14 points and seven assists, while Jada Lee scored 10 points and added five assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Chowan jumped out to an early 12-0 lead as Danielle Weldon started the run after a Saints bucket. Mariah Coker knocked down a triple followed by two baskets by Danielle Weldon and a trey by Jada Lee.
Mariah Coker would continue shooting from behind the arc with a triple before a Danielle Weldon hit a jumper in transition to force a timeout with the 17-4 advantage.
Limestone would cut into the deficit with a bucket, but Danielle Weldon would grab the offensive board and put back the carom. Weldon would run the floor and convert again on the other end to extend the advantage to 21-7.
Destiny Robinson would get into the scoring with a layup following a steal by Jada Lee. The Hawks led 23-9 at the buzzer.
Second Quarter:
Jordan Pettway opened the scoring in the quarter for the Hawks with a triple from the short corner. The Saints would cut the deficit in half with a pair of baskets, 26-13.
Danielle Weldon continued her strong play inside converting the three-point opportunity. Jordan Pettaway traded a triple with the Saints before Mariah Coker knocked down a three to stretch the advantage to 35-19.
Jordan Pettway knocked down her third triple of the half off a pass from Jada Lee to give the Hawks a 40-23 advantage late in the opening half.
Jahkeria Bagby went 1-2 from the stripe to end the half to lead 41-23 at intermission.
Third Quarter:
Limestone started the quarter with a quick 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 41-28 and forced a Chowan timeout.
The Saints continued their run (12-0) to cut the deficit to single digits, 41-35, before Jada Lee knocked down a jumper to put the Hawks on the board in the half. Joanne Williams stretched the lead back to double-digits with the old-fashioned three-point play at the media timeout.
Mariah Coker would trade triples with the Saints to keep the lead in double-figures. Jordan Pettway knocked down a trey to stretch the lead to 52-38.
Jada Lee converted the three-point play on the final possession for the Hawks to lead 55-41.
Fourth Quarter:
The Saints cut the deficit to 55-45 before Jordan Pettway knocked down her fifth three-pointer in the contest. Limestone continued to chip away at the Hawks' lead to trim the deficit to five, 58-53, with the 12-3 run to open the quarter to force a timeout.
Joanne Williams ends the run with a lay-up. Danielle Weldon netted her first basket of the second half to push the lead to seven, 62-55, with 2:59 left in the contest. Jada Lee continued the scoring with a back-door cut and lay-up off a pass from Mariah Coker.
Jada Lee secured a defensive rebound to force Limestone to foul in the final minute of action. Mariah Coker tallied two from the charity stripe to extend the lead to 66-55.
Jordan Pettway and Kaylah Henderson picked up points at the stripe to secure the win for the Hawks.
UP NEXT
Chowan will return to the court following the holiday to face another future league foe, Barton, on Monday, November 26. Tip-off is slated for 6pm.
