College of Charleston
Minnesota
Women?s Hoops Flashes Potential in Loss to Golden Gophers
11/29/2014 11:03:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ESTERO, Fla. – Despite being the better team over the opening twenty minutes of play on Saturday afternoon, College of Charleston women's hoops couldn't shake off a poor second half shooting performance, eventually falling to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, 74-50, in the second round of the 2014 Gulf Coast Showcase.
Versatile forward Jacqueline Luna-Castro led the Cougars (0-6) offensively with 10 points, while the team's leading scorer over the season's first five game, senior shooting guard Erin Hall, chipped in with eight. Playing against one of the most physical teams in the Big-Ten, the Cougars held their own on the boards and played well defensively, but found baskets difficult to come by, draining at just a 28% clip en route to their sixth consecutive loss.
Out of the gates, Luna-Castro won the tip and quickly knocked down the first basket of the game to give CofC an early 2-0 lead. Minnesota then went on the offensive and looked to be in control at 18-10, before three straight baskets from The College brought the Cougars to within one at 18-17. It was tight from there as Charleston again cut the deficit to just one point following a three-pointer from Hall with 3:14 to play in the half. As both teams continued to trade blows, a free throw Minnesota's Stabresa McDaniel then gave the Golden Gophers a narrow 30-28 lead at the halftime break.
It was a determined first half display from the Cougars, who matched the Golden Gophers physicality from the opening tip, never trailing by more than eight. Freshman point guard Shiclasia Brown looked poised throughout and set the tone for the Cougars early, scoring seven points on three-of-six from the field in the opening twenty minutes, while Hall knocked down two deep threes to keep momentum in the Cougars' corner. Mikaela Hopkins and Christy Hewatt both battled on the low-block; grabbing nine first half rebounds against a Golden Gophers team that boasts four post players over 6-feet-2 inches tall.
In the second half, Minnesota came out hot, knocking down shots and quickly extending their lead from two to 13 following a three from 2014 first-team All-Big Ten selection Rachel Banham. Undeterred, the Cougars continued to play well on the defensive end, but could get no closer than 10 the rest of the way, shooting just 20% from the field in the second half as Minnesota took control, eventually walking away with a 74-50 victory over the Cougars.
Next up for The College is a Sunday, 12 p.m. (ET) showdown with Villanova, in what will be both teams' final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
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