Cougars Host Paladins to Start SoCon Second-Half
1/24/2011 12:09:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The College of Charleston women's basketball team begins the second half of its season Monday night with a rematch against the Furman Paladins. The Jan. 24th game is slated to tip-off at 7 p.m.
The Cougars (5-14, 2-8) face the Furman Paladins for the 37th time. Furman is 23-13 in the series dating back to Jan. 25, 1974, with the Paladins winning the contest, 42-41. Charleston and Furman met earlier this season in Greenville with the Paladins coming away with the 61-56 win.
Elon erased an 11-point deficit in the last five minutes and forced overtime, where the Phoenix outscored the Cougars 9-2, to take the 56-49 win in the last contest for CofC. Janae Smith (Matteson, Ill.) led the Cougars with 14 points and six rebounds. Latisha Harris (Aynor, S.C.) followed with 10 points and six boards.
Two Cougars are averaging in double-figures this season with Smith leading the pack at 12.1 a game. Tonia Gerty (Port Orange, Fla.) is second with 10.0. Smith also holds the top spot in rebounds with 6.0.
After suffering through a seven-game losing streak, the Furman Paladins have won back-to-back games, including a 58-50 decision against Georgia Southern in their last game. Three Paladins are averaging in double-figures with Kaitlin Murphy leading the pack with 12.6. Kelly O'Connor follows with 12.3, along with Kendra Berry, who leads in rebounds with 7.4, with her 10.5.
Head Coach Nancy Wilson is on the verge of a milestone; with a 299-187 record, Coach Wilson is looking for her 300th win as coach of the Cougars.
The Cougars are 27-10 in the Carolina First Arena since it opened in the fall of 2008. Charleston is 3-5 this season.
In the five games won by the Cougars this season, they have shot better (.364-.322). Rebounds are fairly even with Charleston holding a slight 38.4-37.2 advantage. Charleston has just a few more turnovers, 108-105, and a few more steals, 57-47. The games have been tight, with the point differential only 3.6.
For ticket information visit www.CofCSports.com or call the ticket office at 843.953.CofC (2362).
