Jade Hughes (Spartanburg, S.C.) scored a team-leading 19 points, including the go-ahead basket with 23 seconds remaining, to lead the College of Charleston women's basketball team to the come-from-behind 74-71 victory over Davidson tonight at Belk Arena.
The win ends the Wildcats' perfect 7-0 Southern Conference mark and is the first for the Cougars against Davidson in 13 tries, dating back to a 70-67 decision Jan. 26, 2002 at the John Kresse Arena. Davidson falls to 8-9 overall and 7-1 in the league. Charleston improves to 10-5 and 4-4.
Charleston found itself down by seven with 4:21 to go in the second half, trailing 71-64. The Wildcats would not score again as the Cougars rattled off 10 unanswered points, including the go-ahead by Hughes. After Hughes missed a jumper at the 43 second mark, Alex Thompson recovered the loose ball and headed down the court. At midcourt, Hughes stole the ball and set herself up for the go-ahead lay-up with 23 seconds remaining. Sarah Moye added insurance points with two free throws and a stingy Charleston defense kept the Wildcats from a clear shot as the Cougars took the 74-71 win.
Charleston led by as many as 10 points in the first half and were up by eight, 37-29, with 3:17 to go before Davidson went on a 9-0 run to head into the locker room with its first lead of the game, 38-37.
The Cougars shot 47.3 percent for the game, compared to 50.0 percent for Davidson. Charleston out-rebounded the Wildcats 31-26, but Davidson was held to just five offensive boards, compared to 21 defensive boards for the Cougars. Davidson was 18-for-19 from the free throw line, while Charleston was 17-for-20. Charleston was five-for-15 from beyond the three-point arc, with three of them coming from Hughes. Davidson was three-for-nine.
Following Hughes and her 19 points was Deidra Jones (Irmo, S.C.) with 18 and Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.). Sarah Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.) followed with 10 on the night. She also led the team in rebounds with six, along with Ericka Williams (North, S.C.).
Leading Davidson was Mercedes Robinson with her career-high 30 points and eight rebounds.
Charleston next travels to Wofford Jan 17 for a 3:00 p.m. game.
