Due West, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Flying Fleet of Erskine College on Saturday afternoon in an 82-71 final score.
The Warriors shot 39.7% from the field and were 35.5% from beyond the arc. Four Warriors posted double digits in the game. Makayla Raines led the team as she totaled 25 points while going 4-9 from beyond the arc. Peyton Looky picked up 15 points and both Danielle Earley and Savanna Nicholson had 10 points. Of the 12 assists in the game, Looky led the team with five. Raines had four assists and Emily Gamon had two.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 50 rebounds during the game. Danielle Earley, Kyra Price and Esther Cole each had seven rebounds to their name. Makayla Raines collected six rebounds, and Peyton Looky and Emily Gamon collected five rebounds each. The Warriors stole the ball away eight times in the game with both Looky and Lexie Ransom having two steals apiece.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 82, Erskine 71
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-10 / CC 2-4) Erskine (1-8 / CC 0-3)
How It Happened
An early foul by the Warriors sent Albany Wilson to the free throw line where she made her second shot. The Warriors fought back as Peyton Looky got the ball over to Savanna Nicholson. Nicholson got the ball into the basket from beyond the arc to give Southern Wesleyan a 3-1 point lead. Makayla Raines sunk a three pointer with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. The Flying Fleet cut the Warriors lead in half as Wilson laid the ball up into the basket. However, the Warriors would not relent as Looky laid the ball up into the basket. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Kyra Price hit a three pointer and then Looky got up another layup.
Southern Wesleyan picked up where they left off in the second quarter as Peyton Looky quickly got the ball out to Makayla Raines. Raines knocked down a three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to 17-18. Erskine answered with a layup by Jayla Dendy. The Warriors continued to sink the ball from beyond the arc as Peyton Looky, Savanna Nicholson and Makayla Raines each put up three point shots. Kaela Ward laid the ball up into the basket for the Flying Fleet. However, the Warriors persisted with another three pointer by Raines. With just over three minutes left in the first half, Imani Hardin knocked down a three pointer. The Warriors led 40-28 going into the locker room.
The Flying Fleet came back to within ten points of the Warriors early in the third quarter as Albany Wilson laid the ball up into the basket. A foul by Erskine allowed Danielle Earley to go to the charity stripe. Earley hit both her shots to keep Southern Wesleyan's lead at ten. Makayla Raines passed the ball out beyond the arc to Emily Gamon. Gamon hit a three pointer to extend the Warriors' lead to 45-32. Peyton Looky collected a rebound and took the ball coast-to-coast to lay it up into the basket. With just under three minutes left in the quarter, Esther Cole tipped the ball up into the basket. Lexie Ransom hit a three pointer, but the Flying Fleet answered with a three pointer by Albany Wilson.
The Warriors took a twenty-one point lead seconds into the final quarter as Makayla Raines put up a jump shot. Genesis Young stole the ball away from the Warriors and quickly got the ball over to Janiya Adams who laid it up into the basket. Raines got up and hit a mid-range jump shot. Albany Wilson laid the ball up on a breakaway. The Flying Fleet continued to chip away at the Warriors lead as Ahrianna Scott put up a three pointer. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Emily Gamon laid the ball up into the basket to extend the Warriors lead back to twelve, but it was short lived as Adams hit a mid-range jump shot. The Flying Fleet hit a last second three pointer out of the hands of Scott, but Southern Wesleyan walked away with an 82-71 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on January 7 at 5pm. They will remain at home on January 10 as they host the King Tornado. The Warriors will then enter a two-game road trip where they will take on Paine College on January 12 and Ferrum College on January 17.
