Due West, SC – The Erskine College Lady Fleet used an 8-2 run to start the game and take a 63-50 victory over second place Belmont Abbey College in Conference Carolinas women’s basketball action Monday night at Belk Arena.
The Crusaders would take a 2-0 lead on a jumper by Shayla Jackson 36 seconds into the game, but the Fleet would answer on their next possession with a three pointer by Jean Marie Harris (Lancaster, SC, Indian Land High School) to take the lead and they would not look back. Erskine would lead by as much as nine in the first half, but Belmont Abbey would cut the lead to four on a layup by Kelsey Long with a minute remaining in the half. Christine Phan (Savannah, GA, Windsor Forest High School) would drain a three pointer from the corner as time expired to push the Fleet lead back to seven heading into the half.
The Crusaders would open the second half on a 7-2 run, and a three point basket by Brittaney Rice would make it a 32-30 game three minutes into the half. Erskine would respond to the Crusader run, and Harris would be fouled making a layup and after converting the three point lead, Erskine would be back on top by seven. Leading 37-33 with 14:04 remaining, Porsha Morgan (Columbus, GA, LaGrange Academy) would drain a three pointer to spark the Fleet to a 11-0 run over the next four minutes and push their lead to 15. Belmont Abbey would not be able to make one last run at Erskine and the Fleet would hold on for the victory.
Erskine placed four players in double digits, with Morgan leading the way with a game high 21 points. Harris and Elizabeth Tatum (Glennville, GA, Pinewood Christian Academy) added 12 points each while Jana Dixon (Conyers, GA, Heritage High School) pitched in 10. Dixon and Tatum both led the Fleet on the boards with seven rebounds each.
Jackson was the lone Crusader to reach double digits, scoring 20 points to go along with six rebounds and three assist.
With the win, Erskine improves to 8-10 overall and 6-6 in the conference, while Belmont Abbey falls to 11-9 and 10-4.
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