#articleRelated { display: none !important; } The Lady Bulldogs (1-1) overcame a late surge, a litany of turnovers, and a tough College of Charleston (1-1) team to score their first win of the season Monday night, posting a 62-53 victory over the Cougars. The win was the team's first under head coach Tonya Mackey.

After building an 18-point lead in the first half of play, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves in a battle late in the contest and leading by just one point in the final half of the game.

Senior guard Rachel King led the College of Charleston effort with 14 points and four assists in the loss while guard Patrice Bryant added 12 points and seven steals.

The Lady Bulldogs were led by freshman LaQuita Ball's 16 points and five assists in the contest. Senior forward Evena Morency added her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds while junior forward Melaney Denson added 14 points. Junior forward Marlana Spencer also added 12 points in the contest.

The Lady Bulldogs took control of the contest midway through the first half going on a 16-0 run early in the contest and erasing a 5-0 College of Charleston lead that opened the contest to take a 16-5 lead on a steal and lay-up by Ball.

The S.C. State surge would continue through much of the first half as the Lady Bulldogs commanded a 28-10 lead with 4:57 left in the first half. However, the Cougars would storm back cutting the SCSU lead to just nine points heading into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was a battle as the College of Charleston continued their push as a King three-pointer cut the SCSU lead to six points, 38-32 with 16:12 left in the game.

For the second time in the game, the Lady Bulldogs would go on a run and expand their lead to double-digits, leading 44-34 with 13:25 left only to see it cut once again down to five points as another King three-pointer cut the SCSU lead to 48-43.

The Lady Bulldogs would find themselves under stress again later in the contest as a College of Charleston jumper by Bryant would cut the SCSU lead to just one point 53-52 with 3:40 left in the game.

However, the Lady Bulldogs held on to the win as Morency scored a pair of lay-ups late to give the Lady Bulldogs a 57-52 lead with 1:42 left that sealed the game for the Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Bulldogs would hit five-of-six free throws in the final minute of play to seal the 62-53 win.

The College of Charleston will host Lander on Tuesday, November 30th at 6:00pm.