DUE WEST, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan couldn't hold onto an early lead against Erskine on Wednesday night, suffering their second loss of the season to the Flying fleet by a final score of 60-52.

The Warriors jumped out to a 21-14 lead as Cayse Branyon and Christiana Perkins combined to score 13 of the team's first 21 points. Branyon connected on a pair of 3 pointers in those first 10 minutes and finished 4 of 10 from long range, scoring 12 points overall. Perkins led the team with 13 points off the bench. She added 10 rebounds for her team-leading 6^th double-double of the year.

SWU continued to maintain the advantage late into the half, pushing the lead back to seven at 28-21 with just under six minutes to go after Erskine has cut the margin down to three. The Flying Fleet scored the half's final eight points as the Warriors were shutout in the final six minutes. Erskine took their first lead of the contest with four seconds left in the half as Haleigh Spaulding connected on a pair of free throws.

Erskine pushed their lead out to eight with a 12-5 run to start the second half, taking a 41-33 lead with 14:12 to play on a jumper from Andrienne Bannerman. After Perkins made one of two free throws, the Flying fleet scored the next six points of the game, over a four minute stretch, as the lead grew to double digits for the first time and reaching its zenith at 13.

From there the Warriors played the Flying Fleet even in the final 10 minutes but were unable to find a run to get closer than seven, which they did at 58-51 with just 40 seconds to play.

Both teams struggled mightily from the field as the Warriors shot 27.8 percent from the floor and the Flying Fleet not much better at 35.2 percent. The big difference came at the free throw line as Erskine knocked down 18 of 25 at the stripe but the Warriors got to the line just 12 times, making seven.

In addition to Perkins and Branyon, Shyla Coleman was in double figures with 10 points and also grabbed five rebounds. Branyon secured five boards as well and added four assists to lead the team.

Erskine enjoyed a big advantage on the glass, pulling down 59 rebounds to only 40 for the Warriors. Both teams had big offensive rebound numbers as SWU reigned in 16 and the Flying Fleet brought home 18. Despite the high number of offensive rebounds, neither team was able to really convert as Erskine scored just 10 second chance points and the Warriors only four.

The Warriors did force 26 turnovers and scored 17 points off those turnovers but were unable to overcome the Flying Fleet. Erskine was led by Tara Potter's 14 points and 14 rebounds.

Erskine won the season's first meeting back in November.

The Warriors return home after a three-game road trip to host Belmont Abbey on Saturday at 2 p.m.