Banner Elk, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Lees-McRae Bobcats on Saturday afternoon in a 77-69 final score.
The Warriors shot 42.2% from the field and were 40% from beyond the arc on Saturday afternoon. Makayla Raines led the team as she totaled 33 points in the game after going 14-19 from the field and 5-7 from beyond the arc. Raines' 33 points tied the current school record of 33 points in a game made by Janaye Gillard back in 2012. Peyton Looky also posted double digits as she totaled 11 points in the game. Looky and Emily Gamon each had three assists in the game.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 38 boards. Makayla Raines continued her impressive showing as she led the team with nine rebounds. Esther Cole followed with seven rebounds. Kyra Price had the lone block of the game for Southern Wesleyan. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Bobcats nine times with Raines recording three steals. Peyton Looky and Emily Gamon each had two steals in the game.
Game Vitals
Final: Lees-McRae 77, Southern Wesleyan 69
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-7 / CC 1-3) Lees-McRae (6-3 / CC 3-1)
How It Happened
The Warriors were first on the board in the game as Lexie Ransom passed the ball under the net to Kyra Price who laid it up into the basket. The Bobcats answered seconds later as Nadiya Hairston put up a jump shot. Savanna Nicholson went looking for her first three pointer of the game, but she was fouled on the shot to send her to the charity stripe. Nicholson knocked down all three of her shots to put the Warriors ahead by three. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Peyton Looky and Makayla Raines hit back-to-back shots. Lees-McRae challenged, but Emily Gamon stole the ball away from Sandra Mason and got the ball out to Raines who knocked down a three pointer. The Bobcats answered with a three pointer by Sydney Gueterman. Gamon took the ball down the court and beat out all the Bobcat defenders before putting up a three pointer to give the Warriors a 20-9 point lead with just over four minutes left in the quarter. Gueterman drove to the basket and laid the ball up to put Lees-McRae within nine.
A foul by the Warriors sent Camryn Lee to the free throw line where she got in both baskets to put the Bobcats within two. However, the Warriors fought back as Peyton Looky went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up into the basket. The Bobcats would not back down as Lee and Nadiya Hairston put up back-to-back shots to tie the game up. A three pointer by Sandra Mason allowed Lees-McRae to take their first lead of the game with just over seven minutes left in the quarter. Makayla Raines wove around the defense and laid the ball up to keep the Warriors within one. Kirsten Watt drove to the basket to lay the ball up, but the Warriors answered with a layup by Raines. Peyton Looky charged into the paint and put up a jump shot to keep Southern Wesleyan within five points of Lees-McRae. The Bobcats led 40-31 going into the locker room.
Southern Wesleyan kicked off the second half as Makayla Raines pulled down a rebound and put it right back up into the basket. However, the Bobcats answered with a layup out of the hands of Nadiya Hairston. Sydney Gueterman and Braelyn Stilwell each got up shots, but the Warriors pressed on as Esther Cole laid the ball up into the basket and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one. With just over five minutes on the clock, Raines knocked down another three pointer off a pass from Peyton Looky. Raines pressed on as she hit another three pointer. The Bobcats answered as Gueterman hit a three pointer of her own. A three pointer by Looky put the Warriors within five, but once again Gueterman countered with a three pointer.
Nadiya Hairston hit an early three to start the final quarter to give the Bobcats a ten point lead. However, the Warriors cut it right back down to seven on a three pointer out of the hands of Kyra Price. Raines drove to the basket and laid the ball up. Emily Gamon hit a mid-range jump shot and then Raines laid the ball up once again. Southern Wesleyan continued their challenges as Gamon once again got the ball into the basket. Lees-McRae answered the Warriors every attack as Sydney Gueterman laid the ball up into the basket. The Bobcats walked away with a 77-69 victory over the Warriors.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return home on Tuesday, December 16 as they welcome the North Greenville Trailblazers to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium. The Warriors will honor the Faculty and Staff of Southern Wesleyan University during the game. They will then hit the road to compete in the Mocs Christmas Classic on December 19 and 20 where they will take on Florida Southern on December 19 and then Eckerd on December 20.
