Box Score Due West, S.C. – Southern Wesleyan used an 11-4 spurt in the final two minutes to secure a 69 to 54 victory over the Erskine Flying Fleet this afternoon in non-conference women’s basketball action at Belk Arena.

With two minutes remaining, Erskine senior guard Sha'Niqua Whitley (Columbia, SC, Ridge View High School) drilled a jump shot from the free throw line to trim the Warrior lead to eight points at 58 to 50.  After working the clock, SWU’s Ashley Cooper hit a short jumper in the paint.  With Erskine forced to foul, SWU converted on 7 of 8 free throws to lengthen their lead to the widest margin of the game at 69 to 54.

In the first half, Erskine overcame an eleven point deficit to tie the game at halftime at 27 to 27.  Freshman guard Tori Whittenberg (Mauldin, SC, Mauldin High School) ignited the Fleet 11-0 run with runner in the lane followed by a steal.  Whittenberg finished a career high 9 steals as the Fleet forced 23 Warrior turnovers, including 14 steals.  Sophomore Tara Potter (Sherrills Ford, NC, Bandys High School) ended the half on a turn-around jumper in the lane off a feed from Chandler Turner.

Erskine grabbed their first lead of the game as junior guard Rosa Powell (Lilburn, GA, Brookwood High School) made a 3-point shot from the corner to open the second half.  The lead exchanged hands 3 more times along with 3 ties over the next ten minutes of play.  With just under nine minutes left to play, SWU’s Lauren Johnson nailed a 3-point basket to give the Warriors the lead they would never relinquish at 42 to 39.

Whittenberg led the Fleet with a career-high 20 points and 7 rebounds while Whitley came off the bench to score a season-high 16 points.  Junior Jana Dixon (Conyers, GA, Heritage High School) led Erskine on the boards with 8 rebounds.

SWU had three players finish in double-figures, including a double-double by Cooper.  Cooper had 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.  Johnson led all-scorers with 29 points while pulling down 9 rebounds.  Audra Cranston also contributed 15 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.

Erskine falls to 0-8 on the season while the SWU improves to 5-6 overall.

Erskine is on the road for their next two games.  On Thursday, the Fleet travel to Hartwell, South Carolina, to play the Cobras of Coker College.  Game time is at 5:30 p.m.  On Saturday, Erskine travels to Pfeiffer University with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m.