College of Charleston
Savannah State
CofC Defeats Savannah State, 69-52
1/24/2007 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jade Hughes' game-high 20 points and Erika Smith's game-high 10 rebounds lifted the College of Charleston to a 69-52 victory over Savannah State in women's basketball action before 263 at the John Kresse Arena on Wednesday.
The victory improves Charleston's record to 10-10 overall, while Savannah State drops to 6-14.
Shaunte Carter scored the first basket of the game for Savannah State 36 seconds in. However, Charleston proceeded to go on a 16-0 run over the next 12 minutes that was culminated by a jumper from Christina Williams with 13:03 left in the half. The Cougars continued to control the action and a lay-up by Hughes with 8:58 left in the half gave them a 21 point lead, 27-6, the largest scoring margin in the half. Ashley Scott made two free throws with two seconds remaining in the first half to give the Cougars a 37-22 lead going into halftime.
Charleston shot 41.2 percent from the field in the fist half, including making four out of 10 three-pointers. Savannah State shot 26.5 percent and made only one out of five three-pointer attempts.
Savannah State started the second half with a 6-2 run and a jumper by LaShara Smith 4:56 into the half cut the margin to 12 points and made the score, 40-28, in favor of Charleston. The Cougars responded with their own 7-0 run and a layup by Melissa Chambers with 12:36 left in the game gave them a 47-28 lead. Both teams continued to trade baskets in the second half, but a jumper by Hughes with 7:58 remaining gave Charleston their largest lead of the game, 57-33.
The Cougars shot 38.6 percent from the field and made 18 out of 22 free-throws, while the Tigers shot 30.8 percent and made nine out of 19 free-throw attempts. CofC grabbed more rebounds than Savannah State, 50-38, and more steals, 16-15.
Nikki Williams also scored 11 points for the Cougars, while Chambers grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
Carter led Savannah State in scoring with 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Antoinette Williams also scored 13 points with seven rebounds for the Tigers.
The Cougars next game will be at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. on Jan. 27, beginning at 1 p.m. The Tigers will return to action in a home game against Bethune-Cookman on Jan. 27 beginning at 4 p.m.
