College of Charleston
Bethune Cookman
Cougars Survive Wildcats, 59-56
11/20/2010 3:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball
A 12-point lead late in the second half quickly evaporated as the Bethune Cookman Wildcats staged a furious rally in the last two minutes to pull within three, but an errant three-pointer with two seconds remaining preserved the 59-56 win for the College of Charleston women's basketball team tonight in front of 189 fans at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Cougars (2-2) scored six of the second half's first eight points to lead by 13 (41-28) with 18:09 to go. Bethune Cookman (1-1) began to eat away at the lead over the next 10 minutes and only trailed by three, 44-41, with 7:59 on the clock. A 13-4 run by the Cougars ended that threat and they led 57-45 with just 2:15 remaining.
Bethune Cookman scored the next nine points, sparked by six from Sarah Bolden, who had 14 points on the night, and trailed by just three with 48 seconds to go. Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) was fouled with 43 seconds on the clock and nailed two free throws to send the Cougar lead to five before a lay-up by Jasmine Daniels at the 35 second mark put the game back into reach for the Wildcats. Gerty missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw shot, giving Bethune Cookman one last chance to at least tie the game, but a three-pointer by Demetria Frank fell just short as the clock winded down, and the Cougars escaped with the 59-56 victory.
Charleston opened the game cold as ice from the floor and the Cougars found themselves down 15-3 with 12:37 remaining in the first half. The Cougars found their rhythm as Cathryn Hardy (Dayton, Ohio) scored five of her nine points during a nine minute stretch that saw the Cougars outscore the Wildcats 19-8 and take a 23-22 lead with 4:02 on the clock. They would not give the lead back up the rest of the game, rounding out the half on a 13-3 run the final four minutes to head into the locker room leading by nine, 35-26.
Gerty returned to her hometown and led the Cougars with 15 points with Latisha Harris (Aynor, S.C.) and Hardy following with nine apiece. Deidre Ramer pulled down 12 rebounds including eight from the defensive end, as the Cougars held the 41-35 advantage on the glass.
Three Wildcats scored in double-figures with Frank leading with 16 and seven rebounds. Turnovers were fairly even with Bethune Cookman holding the slight 27-25 edge.
Charleston shot 37.9 percent from the field for the game, while Bethune Cookman shot 36.0. The Cougars were 13-of-20 from the free throw line, compared to 19-of-25 for the Wildcats. Charleston dominated in the paint, 32-18.
Charleston returns home Monday, November 22, for a 7 p.m. game against USC Aiken.
