Due West, SC – The Women’s Basketball Team started their 2009-2010 campaign with a 78 to 73 win over Brevard College.  With four returning starters from last year’s squad, the Flying Fleet have high expectations to improve on last year’s 17-10 season.

Tonight’s game began very sloppy for both teams.  Erskine forced several Brevard turnovers but failed to convert those opportunities into points missing several lay ups.  After five minutes to play, Erskine led 8 to 6.  The pace picked up at this point with Erskine grasping a three point lead when Octavia Johnson (Greenville, SC/Berea High School) found Taylar Stewart (Hartwell, GA/Hart Co. H.S.) under the basket for the easy bucket.  But Brevard’s Anna Schlobom would hit back to back baskets to give Brevard the lead at 19 to 18.  Audrey Timmerman (Aiken, SC/Aiken H.S.) would give Erskine their largest lead of the half with a steal and easy lay up, putting the Fleet up 28 to 23.  Brevard would cut the lead to just three at halftime with Erskine ahead 33 to 30.

Erskine opened the 2^nd half with a 17 to 10 run stretching their halftime lead to 50 to 40 with 15 minutes left to play.  Lead by Samantha Winn, Brevard fought back to take a 55 to 53 lead.  Erskine would finally take the lead for good when Porsha Morgan (Columbus, GA/LaGrange Academy) found Audrey Timmerman in the corner for a three pointer.  Brevard would make it interesting by closing within two on a 3 pointer by Lindsay Brendle with 2:33 remaining.  The Flying Fleet would hit their free throws down the stretch to win the game 78 to 73.

On the night, Audrey Timmerman led all scorers with 26 points along with 7 steals.  Porsha Morgan and Neci Allen (North Augusta, SC/North Augusta H.S.) would also reach double-digits with 13 points a piece for the Fleet.  Freshman Taylar Stewart demonstrated she will be a force in the paint grabbing a game-high 18 rebounds.  She also had six points on the night.

The Flying Fleet are on the road until after Christmas break.  This weekend the Fleet travel to Coker College for their Conference Carolinas opener, followed by a tournament appearance at the North Georgia Thanksgiving Classic on November 27^th and 28^th.