Due West, SC – Southern Wesleyan rallied from behind to take down the Erskine Flying Fleet in a 71-65 final score on Wednesday evening.
The Warriors shot 34.2% from the field with three players hitting double digits during the game. Kaliah Kendrick led the team with 19 points. She was followed by Asia Pearley (18) and Makayla Raines (11). Peyton Looky and Raines each had two assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 49 rebounds. Rahkhia Mack had eight and Kaliah Kendrick was right behind her with seven. Both Mack and Asia Pearley recorded solo blocks. The Warriors totaled 14 steals. Looky led the team with five.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 71, Erskine 65
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-10 / CC 2-6) Erskine (3-12 / CC 2-7)
How It Happened
The Warriors took the first points of the game as Alexis Glover put up a layup. The lead was short lived as Albany Wilson hit a three pointer to give Erskine the advantage. The Flying Fleet would not relent as Wilson hit two more shots to extend their lead to five. Kaliah Kendrick drove to the basket and laid the ball up. Erskine pushed on, but a layup by Makayla Raines put the Warriors right back within two. With just over four minutes left in the quarter, Jordan Race passed the ball out beyond the arc to Asia Pearley. Pearley drilled in the three pointer to allow the Warriors to regain the lead.
Kyra Price kicked off the second quarter for the Warriors with a jump shot, but a layup by Albany Wilson allowed the Flying Fleet to take the lead. Kaliah Kendrick collected a rebound off another shot by Wilson and took the ball down the court. Kendrick passed the ball under the basket to Asia Pearley who put up a lay up to give Southern Wesleyan a 21-20 point lead. The battle continued between the two teams, but another layup by Pearley allowed the Warriors to keep the game tied up. The Flying Fleet continued to distance themselves from the Warriors with a three pointer by Ahrianna Scott. Makayla Raines drove to the basket and laid it up to put Southern Wesleyan behind Erskine 32-28. Asia Pearley put up layup, but a last second layup by Jakayla Lorick allowed Erskine to lead 38-30 going into the locker room.
Southern Wesleyan attacked the basket early in the third quarter as Rahkhia Mack hit a jump shot. The Flying Fleet answered with a layup by Albany Wilson. Erskine fouled Kaliah Kendrick and Mack on back-to-back plays to send both to the charity stripe and give the Warriors three more points. The Flying Fleet countered with baskets by Keziyah Sanders. Peyton Looky drove to the basket and laid the ball up. A layup by Asia Pearley allowed the Warriors to stay within five. In the final second of the quarter, Kaliah Kendrick hit a deep jump shot to put Southern Wesleyan down 56-53.
Two minutes into the final quarter of the game, Rahkhia Mack drove to the basket and laid the ball up to put the Warriors within one point of the Flying Fleet. Kaliah Kendrick took the ball to the basket and put up a layup, but the Flying Fleet answered with a layup by Albany Wilson. The Flying Fleet continued to challenge the Warriors with another basket by Wilson, but the Southern Wesleyan answered with back-to-back layups by Makayla Raines and Kendrick. Peyton Looky sent the ball under the net to Asia Pearley who laid it up to put Southern Wesleyan on top by three. Southern Wesleyan continued to pressure the Erskine defense and kept them scoreless until Ahrianna Scott hit a late three pointer. However, the Warriors went on to claim a 71-65 victory.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on January 18 as they take on the University of Mount Olive Trojans in Mount Olive, NC. The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on January 20 to take on the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. They will then host the Young Harris Mountain Lions and Barton Bulldogs on January 22 and January 25 respectively.
