Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped a hard fought battle against the Shorter Hawks on Wednesday evening in a 71-62 final score.
The Warriors shot 41.1% from the field and were 41.7% from beyond the arc in the loss to the Hawks. Peyton Looky led the team as she went 5-7 from beyond the arc and totaled 21 points in the game. Behind Looky, Makayla Raines also had double digits as she had 15 points in the game. Four Warriors had two assists in the game.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 28 rebounds with Kyra Price leading the team with seven. Danielle Earley had five boards to her name while both Peyton Looky and Makayla Raines had three. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Hawks six times with both Looky and Savanna Nicholson having two steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Shorter 71, Southern Wesleyan 62
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-13 / CC 3-7) Shorter (10-7 / CC 8-2)
How It Happened
The Warriors went on the attack first as Peyton Looky knocked down an early three pointer. Southern Wesleyan extended their lead to five as Looky got the ball out to Kyra Price who put up a mid-range shot. The Hawks answered as Chelsy Singleton put up a mid-range. The Warriors pressed on as Price hit her first three pointer of the game. However, the Hawks came to within five on a three pointer by Amya Patterson. Patterson got up another three, but the Warriors answered as Lexie Ransom sunk the ball into the basket from beyond the arc.
Southern Wesleyan regained their five point advantage early in the second quarter as Emily Gamon got the ball out to Peyton Looky. Looky stepped right outside the arc and put up another three pointer. Shorter pressed on as Amya Patterson wove by the Warriors and laid the ball up into the basket. Looky knocked down another three, but the Hawks would not relent as they went on a six point run to come to within two points of the Warriors. Gamon and Amari Butler exchanged three pointers. Makayla Raines got by the defense and laid the ball up into the basket. With seconds left in the half, Raines put up a mid-range and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket to give the Warriors a 35-31 point lead going into the locker room.
Peyton Looky side stepped around the Hawks defense and laid the ball up into the basket to kick-off the third quarter for the Warriors. Shorter countered as Alijah Manning laid he ball up. Savanna Nicholson stole the ball away from the Hawks and got the ball down the court. Nicholson passed the ball over to Kyra Price who put up a jump shot to extend the Warriors lead to six. However, the Hawks tied the game up as Chelsy Singleton went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up into the basket. A layup by Amya Patterson allowed Shorter to take the lead for the first time in the game. Shorter distanced themselves more as Kalyn Williams laid the ball up into the basket, but the Warriors would not back down as Makayla Raines hit a three pointer to keep them within six points. In the final seconds of the quarter, Peyton Looky put up a mid-range basket to put the Warriors behind the Hawks 51-44.
Shorter extended their lead to nine as Amari Butler laid the ball up into the basket, but the Warriors answered as Kyra Price hit a mid-range jump shot. Chelsy Singleton and Amya Patterson got up back-to-back baskets. Savanna Nicholson got right past the defense and laid the ball up into the basket. The Warriors continued to chip away at the Hawks lead as Nicholson knocked down a three pointer. With just over two minutes left in the game, Makayla Raines laid the ball up into the basket to put the Warriors back within four. Peyton Looky got up another three pointer, but the Warriors were unable to pass the Hawks as they fell in a 71-62 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will welcome the Trojans of the University of Mount Olive to Central, SC on January 23 for a 3pm tip-off. They will then host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on January 27. On January 31, the Warriors will travel down to Florence, SC to take on the Francis Marion Patriots at 2pm.
