Walters State takes down Cleveland State for fourth straight victory

MORRISTOWN, TN – The Walters State women's basketball team extended their win streak to four games on Saturday afternoon, pulling out a 79-74 victory over Cleveland State.

With the victory, Walters State improves to 4-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play. The victory was coach Jasmin Coleman's first home win as head coach.

"If you can get a win during these times, that's what you want to do," Coleman said. "To be able to play in this conference, you have to come ready to play every day, and we weren't really ready I thought. We were able to slide out of here with a victory, but it was not our best effort."

It was a balanced scoring effort from the Lady Senators with five players scoring in double figures. Blayre Shultz led the way with 18 points while Quentarra Mitchell had 14 points and six rebounds. Along with those two, Jaida Wiggins had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists and Madison Mccoy and Kiera Hill both had 10 points.

Hill provided key minutes off the bench for the Lady Senators as she was a perfect 5-5 from the field and also had six rebounds.

"These are the shots that she needs to make every time," Coleman said. "Tonight she did what she had to do."

It was an even start for both teams in the first quarter as the game was tied 8-8 early on. Walters State would take the lead from there with two buckets from Wiggins and then, after Cleveland State took a 16-14 lead, Wiggins answered back with a 3-pointer. However, it was the Lady Cougars who scored the final four points of the quarter and led 20-17 after one.

In the second quarter, Cleveland State continued to stay ahead and got the lead to seven with 5:40 left in the half. But the Lady Senators responded from there, going on an 8-0 run to retake the lead. Mitchell and Hill each had four points on that run.

From there, the lead went back and forth, and Cleveland State led by one at the break after Ryann Woodley hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for Walters State.

The third quarter saw much of the same for both teams as the lead continued to go back-and-forth. With 7:31 to go though, Shultz hit a 3-pointer that gave the Lady Senators a 44-43 lead. They would never trail again.

After the 3-pointer, Walters State built the lead to seven as Shultz scored four straight. Cleveland State got the lead down to one late in the third, but Haley 

Comer hit a jumper with 11 seconds left and Walters State led by three after three.

In the fourth, the Lady Senators continued to hold a slim lead and had a chance to ice the game with free throws down the stretch. However, Walters State would 5-10 from the line in the fourth but got three straight offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive and claim the victory.

"Down the stretch, we did a good job of getting those offensive rebounds," Coleman said. "On the free throws, we just are going to continue to work on that every single day."

UP NEXT:

Walters State will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 22, taking on Motlow State. The Lady Senators beat Motlow 90-47 the first time they played this year.

"We just need to continue to work and get better," Coleman said. "It's a marathon and not a sprint. With these young kids, we'll just continue to get better."

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics