Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan claimed their first Conference Carolinas victory of the season as they took down the Emmanuel Lions on Wednesday evening in a 73-62 final score.
The Warriors shot 41.8% from the field and were 30.4% from beyond the arc. Seniors Taylin Smith and Asia Pearley led the team with 19 points each. Peyton Looky picked up four of the 13 assists with Kaliah Kendrick right behind her with three assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 32 rebounds. Asia Pearley had nine to lead the team. Pearley went on to pick up two of the four blocks. The other blocks came off the hands of Alexis Glover and DeYana Hayes. Of the Warriors 12 steals, Kaliah Kendrick had four.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 73, Emmanuel 62
Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-9 / CC 1-5) Emmanuel (4-11 / CC 3-5)
How It Happened
The Warriors went on the attack early as Makayla Raines stole the ball away from the Lions and passed it down the court to Dynasty Shegog. Shegog laid the ball up into the basket for the first points of the game. The lead was short lived as Naomi Roberts laid the ball up seconds later to tie the game up. The Warriors and Lions remained in a stale mate for the next two minutes until Kyra Price put up a jump shot to regain the lead for Southern Wesleyan. A three pointer by Asia Pearley and a layup by Raines allowed the Warriors to maintain the advantage, but the Lions would not back down as Abby Crawford put up back-to-back shots. With just over three minutes left in the quarter, Peyton Looky sunk a three pointer. Emmanuel pushed on as a layup by Ade'jah James allowed them to take a 20-12 point lead.
Southern Wesleyan fought back in the second quarter as Makayla Raines stole the ball away once again. Raines raced down the court and laid the ball up into the basket. Seconds later, Rahkhia Mack sent the ball out beyond the arc to Asia Pearley who fired off a three to tie the game up at twenty-one. The tie was short lived as Maddie Futch laid the ball up, however Taylin Smith hit her first three of the night seconds later to regain the Warriors' advantage. Futch took the ball to the net once more to keep the Lions within three. Emmanuel fought back with a jump shot by Carmen Cabello-Rivera, but the Warriors led the game 39-34 going into the locker room.
The Lions came out swinging in the third quarter as Naomi Roberts and Maddie Futch put up back-to-back shots to put them back within one. Makayla Raines gained control of the ball and took the ball all the way to the rim. The Warriors pressed on as Kaliah Kendrick stole the ball away from Abby Crawford and passed it down the court to Alexis Glover. Glover laid the ball up to extend the Warriors lead to five. With just under seven minutes on the clock, Asia Pearley sunk a three pointer to give Southern Wesleyan a ten point advantage. Crawford hit a three pointer of her own, but the Warriors answered with a three out of the hands of Rahkhia Mack.
Fouls by the Lions early in the fourth quarter sent Taylin Smith to the free throw line. Smith hit all her free throw attempts to extend the Warriors lead to 66-52. Maddie Futch collected a pass from Lizzie Teasley and hit a three pointer, but Asia Pearley followed up with several more layups. Despite last second baskets by Carmen Cabello-Rivera and Hannah Harris, the Lions could not pass the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan went on to claim a 73-62 victory over Emmanuel.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will travel to Tigerville, SC on January 11 to take on the North Greenville Trailblazers. They will remain on the road on January 15 and January 18 as they take on the Erskine Flying Fleet and University of Mount Olive Trojans. The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on January 20 as they host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
