Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan picked up their first win of the 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon as they took down the Toccoa Falls Screaming Eagles in a 95-64 final score.
The Warriors shot 40.8% from the field and were 67.3% from the free throw line. Four were in double digits with Taylin Smith leading the team with 16. Lexie Ransom (14), Asia Pearley (13) and Alexis Glover (11) also recorded double digits. Of the 19 assists in the game, Smith led the team with four. Kaliah Kendrick, Ransom and Rahkhia Mack each had three assists.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 56 rebounds with Asia Pearley picking up 10 to give her a double-double. Dynasty Shegog had two of the four blocks. DeYana Hayes and Asia Pearley had the other blocks. Both Peyton Looky and Kaliah Kendrick each had four steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 95, Toccoa Falls 64
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-3) Toccoa Falls (0-4)
How It Happened
Taylin Smith kicked off the game as she collected a pass from Kaliah Kendrick and stepped beyond the arc to hit a three pointer. The Screaming Eagles answered as Valmary Nunez hit a three of her own. However, seconds later freshman Peyton Looky hit a three pointer of her own to allow the Warriors to regain the advantage. The game slowed down as the two teams battled for points for a couple minutes until Dynasty Shegog stole the ball away from Toccoa Falls and got it Rahkhia Mack. Mack raced down the court and laid it up to extend the Warriors lead to six points. Sammi Spees put up a three pointer of her own, but Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Alexis Glover laid the ball up to extend the Warriors lead to eight.
Toccoa Falls came to within ten points of Southern Wesleyan early in the second quarter as Riley Berninger laid the ball up into the basket. The Screaming Eagles pushed on as a foul against Kaliah Kendrick allowed Berninger to hit free throw shots. With just over six minutes left on the clock, Lexie Ransom passed the ball out to Taylin Smith who hit another three pointer to regain the Warriors eleven point advantage. Kyra Price tipped the ball into the basket off an offensive rebound. Ransom sunk the ball from beyond the arc to extend the Warriors lead to 15 points. The Warriors continued to distance themselves as Lexie Ransom stole the ball away from the Screaming Eagles and got the ball under the net to Dynasty Shegog who laid it up to give the Warriors a 41-24 point lead. With just under three on the clock, Peyton Looky stole the ball away from Valmary Nunez and laid the ball up to give Southern Wesleyan a twenty point advantage. The Warriors went on to lead 50-31 at the half.
The Warriors kicked off the third quarter as Asia Pearley laid the ball up into the basket. Alexis Glover took the ball all the way down the court on a fast break that resulted in another layup. Southern Wesleyan would not relent in preventing several more attacks by Toccoa Falls. The Screaming Eagles attacks paid off as Riley Berninger put up another shot to cut the Warriors lead down to twenty-five. The Warriors put in a whole set of fresh legs and went on the attack once again as Dynasty Shegog blocked an attack by Toccoa Falls and then took the ball down the court for a layup. Makayla Raines and Rahkhia Mack hit back-to-back baskets to give the Warriors a thirty point advantage with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. The Warriors continued to distance themselves with free throw shots by Asia Pearley and Kaliah Kendrick.
A foul early in the final quarter sent Riley Berninger to the free throw line. Berninger hit her first shot for the Screaming Eagles. Toccoa Falls cut into Southern Wesleyan's lead with a three pointer by Latyah Barber. Makayla Raines laid the ball up into the basket, but her shot was answered with a basket by Barber to keep the Warriors lead from passing thirty points. With just under four minutes on the clock, Sammi Spees fouled Lexie Ransom on an attempted three point shot to send her to the line. Ransom hit all three of her shots to put the Warriors ahead 84-56. Latyah Barber laid the ball up, but the Warriors quickly answered with a layup by DeYana Hayes. Ransom and Kyra Price both put up layups. A last second jump shot by Faith Yelton allowed the Warriors to win the game in a 95-64 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Spartanburg, SC to take on the Wofford Terriers in exhibition play on November 19. They will then return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on November 20 as they take on Morris College at 5 pm. The Warriors will open up Conference Carolinas action on the road as they travel to Wilson, NC on November 23 to take on the Barton Bulldogs.
