Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in a close battle to the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Tuesday evening in a 65-60 final score.

The Warriors shot 36.2% from the field in the loss to the Bobcats.  Brittany Mack led the team with 17 points.  Behind Mack, Allie Newberry posted 15 points and Nakia Hooks had 11.  The Warriors collected 16 assists during the contest with Lonesha Lee leading the team with five.

Southern Wesleyan had 44 rebounds with both Brittany Mack and Allie Newberry recording eight.  Newberry went on to post two of the three blocks of the evening.  The Warriors stole the ball away from the Bobcats nine times with Tristen Berry leading the team with three.
 


Game Vitals

Final: Lees-McRae 65, Southern Wesleyan 60

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-13 / CC 2-10) Lees-McRae (4-11 / CC 4-9)


 
How It Happened

The Bobcats attacked the court early as Destiny Johnson sunk a jump shot just seconds into the first quarter.  However, a free throw by Allie Newberry seconds later allowed the Warriors to get on the board.  The Warriors continued to push as Sasha Schoenborn made a three to give them a 4-2 point advantage.  They extended their lead to five points as Tristen Berry passed the ball over to Brittany Mack who stepped beyond the arc to sink a three pointer and put the Southern Wesleyan lead at 9-4.  Lees-McRae pushed forward though as back-to-back jump shots by Stephanie Kucy and Brianna Wright put them within one of the Warriors with three minutes left.  The Bobcats took the lead with under a minute to play, but a layup in the paint by Allie Newberry kept the Warriors within one.

The Southern Wesleyan Warriors were not discouraged though as they attacked early in the second quarter.  Brittany Mack got the ball down to Nakia Hooks who laid it up to give the Warriors back the lead.  A layup by Allie Newberry push the Warriors lead to three points with just over eight minutes remaining before halftime.  However, the Bobcats fought back as a jump shot by Malikah Meyers gave them an 18-17 point advantage.  Lees-McRae would not back down as they pushed ahead to lead 30-21 at the half.

Lees-McRae kicked off the third quarter with a layup by Jala Hollman.  Southern Wesleyan countered with back-to-back layups by Allie Newberry and Brittany Mack to put them within nine points of Lees-McRae.  Caroline Reese collected a pass from Lonesha Lee from beyond the arc and sunk a three pointer to put the Warriors down 41-34 of the Bobcats.  Reese sunk another shot to allow the Warriors to come to within five at the end of the third quarter.

The Bobcats took an eight point lead on a three pointer by Malikah Meyers just over a minute into the final quarter of play.  The Warriors countered as Allie Newberry laid the ball up into the basket.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as baskets by Nakia Hooks and Brittany Mack allowed the Warriors to cut the Bobcat lead down to 54-48.  Despite late baskets by Mack, the Warriors fell to the Bobcats 65-60.


 
What's Next

The Warriors will next travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs on February 4 at 5 p.m.  They will remain on the road on February 5 to take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans in Mount Olive, NC at 2 p.m.  Southern Wesleyan will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on February 8 to host the King Tornado at 5:30.  They will then host the Bob Jones Bruins on February 9 at 5 p.m.