Cobras Defeated By Barton

Hartsville, SC – Coker made a valiant attempt to comeback from a 15 point second half deficit but could get no closer than three points in a 59-54 loss to Barton Tuesday evening in women’s collegiate basketball.     Coker drops to 10-12 on the year and 8-8 in the CVAC, while Barton improves to 12-10, 9-7 in the conference.

The Cobras played well in the first half and exchanged leads with the Bulldogs three times before taking a 30-28 advantage into the locker room.  Coker limited BC to 31 percent shooting in the first period and shot 45 percent themselves.

CC scored the first two baskets of the second half but then lost any semblance of an offense as the Bulldogs reeled off 21 consecutive points to take a commanding 49-34 lead.  Junior Leanne Chandler finally stopped the bleeding at the 10:04 mark with a layup which seemed to wake the Cobras back up.

Coker charged back on a 18-6 run which cut the lead to 55-52 with 1:07 to play but it proved to be too late.  Adrienne Walker salted the game away at the foul line, making 4-4 free-throws in the last minute.  The win gave Barton coach Wendee Saintsing her 200^th career victory at BC.

Chandler led all-scorers with 20 points and added 10 rebounds and three blocks in front of a small but boisterous crowd, including her mother and sister, visiting from England.  Junior Frederica McClary added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Kelly Lamotta led the Bulldogs with 15 points and eight rebounds, and Walker contributed 14 points and seven boards, while shooting 9-11 from the foul line. Kee Kee Gorham added 11 points and Lisa Halttunen finished with 10 markers.

The Cobras now travel to Belmont Abbey this Thursday, February 20, for a 5:30 tip off.