Mars Hill, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the season opening game against the Emory & Henry Wasps on Friday afternoon.
The Warriors shot 29.3% from the field and were 58.1% from the free throw line. Senior guard Taylin Smith led the team as she totaled 23 points in the loss. Kaliah Kendrick was the only other player to post double figures as she collected 10 points. Of the seven assists, Kendrick picked up two.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 45 rebounds with Taylin Smith leading the team with nine. Both Asia Pearley and Alexis Glover had five rebounds. Pearley went on to lead the team with two blocks. Freshman Lexie Ransom led the Warriors in steals with four. Five Warriors followed her with two steals apiece.
Game Vitals
Final: Emory & Henry 79, Southern Wesleyan 65
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Emory & Henry (1-0)
How It Happened
The Wasps struck first as Beanna Yarber put up a jump shot, but the Warriors quickly answered as Taylin Smith took the ball to the net for the first basket of the year for Southern Wesleyan. Gracyn Hall hit a three pointer, but Smith hit back-to-back baskets to tie the game back up 7-7. Emory & Henry pushed ahead as Hannah Spainhour laid the ball up. However, free throws by Rahkhia Mack and Makayla Raines tied the game once again. Breanna Yarber laid the ball up into the basket to extend the Wasps lead to four. Freshman Lexie Ranson stole the ball away from the Wasps and laid the ball up to keep the game within two.
Emory & Henry extended their lead further in the second quarter as Lyndie Ramsey sunk the ball from beyond the arc. The Wasps continued their run with more baskets by Ramsey. Southern Wesleyan cut the Wasps lead back down to nine as Peyton Looky and Asia Pearley each put up lay-ups. The Wasps extended their lead back to ten on a layup by Reagan Chapman. Kaliah Kendrick took the ball down the court and then sunk the ball into the basket from the top of the key to put Southern Wesleyan back within eight points of Emory & Henry. Asia Pearley passed the ball out to Alexis Glover who then took the ball in for a layup to cut the Wasps lead to 37-31. Despite a last second layup by Kaliah Kendrick, the Warriors trailed 43-35 going into the locker room.
The Wasps struck first in the third quarter as Mimi Traynham laid the ball up into the basket, but the Warriors countered as Taylin Smith and Peyton Looky put up back-to-back jump shots. Looky stole the ball away from the Wasps and then took it down the court for a layup to keep Southern Wesleyan within eight points of Emory & Henry. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at the Wasps lead as Looky sent the ball over to Asia Pearley. Pearley sunk the ball into the basket from in the paint to put the Warriors within six. Breanna Yarber put up another jump shot to allow the Wasps to regain their 10 point advantage. Pearley stole the ball away from Hannah Spainhour and sunk a jump shot. Kaliah Kendrick stepped beyond the arc and sunk her first three point shot of the season with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Kendrick sent the ball beyond the arc to Taylin Smith who sunk a three pointer to put the Warriors within three. Southern Wesleyan forced the turnover off a press and Smith laid the ball up to tie the game up 57-57.
Emory & Henry regained the lead early in the final quarter as Chelsi Hodges laid the ball up into the basket. The Warriors kept it within one point of the Wasps on a layup by Alexis Glover. Breanna Yarber laid the ball up for the Wasps. Kaliah Kendrick collected a defensive rebound and passed it out to Lexi Ransom. Ransom sent the ball right beyond the arc to Taylin Smith who sunk another three pointer to keep Southern Wesleyan within two points of Emory & Henry. Breanna Yarber laid the ball up once again to extend the Wasps lead to six with just over three minutes left in the quarter. Emory & Henry pushed on as they took the game in a 79-65 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on November 9 as they take on the Mars Hill Lions at 3pm. They will then travel to Gaffney, SC to take on the Limestone Saints on November 13 at 5:30pm. The Warriors will host their home opener against the Toccoa Falls Screaming Eagles on November 16 at 2pm.
