Belmont, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Mars Hill Lions in a 72-58 final score on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors shot 31.4% from the field and were 62.5% from the free throw line. Lexi Greffen led the Warriors with 11 points with Taylin Smith following with 10 points. Greffen, Dynasty Shegog, and S'Moriyah Rice each had two assists. Southern Wesleyan stole the ball away five times. Greffen picked up two steals. Of the 38 rebounds, both Tristen Berry and Shegog led the team with six. Behind them, Asia Pearly had five rebounds. Shelby Glance and Pearly each recorded two blocks.
Game Vitals
Final: Mars Hill 72, Southern Wesleyan 58
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-2) Mars Hill (1-1)
How It Happened
Mars Hill took the early lead as a three point shot by Maddie Gillie and a layup by Halei Gillis gave them a 5-0 point lead. The Warriors got on the board on a layup by Tristen Berry. Dynasty Shegog passed the ball beyond the arc to Taylin Smith who put down a three to put the Warriors within two of the Lions. Shelby Glance laid the ball up into the basket to tie the game up 7-7. A second basket by Glance put the Warriors on top, but the lead was short lived as Gillie sunk a three to give the Lions a one point advantage. Mars Hill distanced themselves further on a three point shot by Naja Ngongba. However, a jump shot by Asia Pearly and a three pointer by Shelby Glance put the Warriors right back within three of the Lions. A last second jump shot by Tristen Berry put the Warriors down by one at the end of the first quarter.
Southern Wesleyan tied the game up as Lexi Greffen put one in from the free throw line. Maddie Gillie stepped beyond the arc and hit another three to allow Mars Hill to regain the lead. Another three by Gillie put the Lions ahead by eight. Alexis Glover collected a rebound and then laid the ball up into the basket. The Lions would not relent as they took a 36-22 on a layup by Tateyoina Harris. Despite a last second jump shot by Lexi Greffen, the Warriors trailed the Lions 39-25 at halftime.
The Warriors kicked off the third quarter with a floating jump shot out of the hands of Tristen Berry. Lexi Greffen drove to the basket for a layup and was fouled on the shot to get the and one and put the Warriors back within nine. However, Maddie Gillie collected a pass beyond the arc from Jaquoria Rucker and sunk the ball to allow the Lions to take a 12 point lead. Dynasty Shegog laid the ball up into the basket with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Mars Hill extended their lead to 64-38 in the fourth quarter on a layup by Tateyoina Harris. The Warriors countered with a pull up jump shot by Lexi Greffen. S'Moriyah Rice passed the ball above the arc to Dynasty Shegog. Shegog fired off a three point shot to put the Warriors down 67-43. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Kaliah Kendrick and Taylin Smith each hit jump shots. The Lions took a 21-point lead on another three pointer by Maddie Gillie. Smith stepped beyond the arc and collected a pass from Shelby Glance before firing off a three pointer. Despite a last minute layup by Asia Pearly, the Warriors fell to the Lions in a 72-58 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will travel to Hartsville, SC on November 15 as they take on the Coker Cobras at 5:30. They will then host their home opener on November 18 as they welcome the Limestone Saints to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium.
