Sophomores shine in No. 7 Walters State’s 81-43 win over Cleveland State

CLEVELAND, TN – No. 7 Walters State's four sophomore starters combined for 59 points and 22 rebounds on Wednesday against Cleveland State, and the Lady Senators went on for an 81-43 win.

With the win, Walters State improved to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in TCCAA play. 

"Definitely happy to get a road win," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "I thought we did a good job in the second and fourth quarters on both sides of the ball. We'll have to continue to get better with things as we head into this weekend against a good Volunteer State team." 

Raegan Starks and Terryauna Griffin led the charge in the scoring column with 17 points each. Starks had six rebounds, as well, and Griffin had seven rebounds and four steals. Along with those two, Anaya Mulholland-Natt had 14 points and four rebounds, while Nyjah Gibbs finished with 11 points and five rebounds. 

As well as those four, Malon Smith finished the game with a double-double as she totaled 14 assists and 10 rebounds, to go along with six points. 

Other contributors for the Lady Senators were Paradise Fisher with six points and five rebounds, Malia Wilcox with five points, seven rebounds and three steals and Mariana Calero Zuniga with five points. 

Walters State got out to a 10-2 lead to start the game as Gibbs scored four quick points and Griffin, Starks and Smith each scored. The lead stayed at eight and was 14-6 following another Gibbs basket, and it was 17-10 at the end of the first thanks to a Mulholland-Natt 3-pointer. 

In the second, Walters State came out quick as Mulholland-Natt scored, and Griffin scored five straight. Cleveland State broke the run with a basket, but Walters State went on an 8-0 run to lead 32-12. The lead was 34-14 following a made layup by Fisher, and it was 38-18 at the half after Fisher scored four more points. 

The third quarter saw Mulholland-Natt open things with a 3-pointer, and Walters State extended the lead to 46-22 following a Wilcox three and a Griffin made shot. Mulholland-Natt hit another three to make it 51-27, and it was 58-33 after three quarters as Gibbs scored three points in the final minute. 

In the fourth, Walters State continued to pour it on with 23 more points. Starks had 11 points in the final 10 minutes, while Griffin and Calero Zuniga each scored five. 

Up Next:

Walters State is back in action on Saturday, hosting Volunteer State. Tip is set for 2 pm ET.