Tigerville, SC – Despite a game-high 26 points from senior guard Porsha Morgan, Erskine lost to in-state conference rival North Greenville University 82 to 67 tonight at Hayes Gymnasium.  Erskine slips to 9-12 overall and 6-7 in conference while NGU moves to 17-5 overall and 12-2 in conference.

Morgan (Columbus, GA, LaGrange Academy) was 9 of 15 from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point land, to lead the Fleet.  Fellow senior Elizabeth Tatum (Glennville, GA, Pinewood Christian Academy) contributed 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.  Freshman Tara Potter (Sherrills Ford, NC, Bandys High School) had a team-high 8 rebounds in 19 minutes.

NGU’s front court tandem of Christina Carlis and Courtney Friddle both finished with a famed “double-double.”  Carlis had 14 points and game-high 13 rebounds and 8 assists while Friddle also had 14 points and 11 rebounds.  Alisha Hope led the Crusaders with 18 points and Karly Stache had 15 points.

NGU’s defense forced 19 turnovers while sweeping the glass to 50 to 32 advantage and giving the Crusaders an extra eighteen shots over the Flying Fleet.

The first half ended with the Fleet cutting the Crusader lead from 9 points to just a point over the last seven minutes of play.  Both Sha'Niqua Whitley (Columbia, SC, Ridge View High School) and Morgan nailed jump shots in the final minute as Erskine trailed 37-36 at halftime.

After a couple of lead changes and ties to begin the second half, NGU’s defense forced five turnovers and four missed shots resulting in 13-1 Tiger run giving NGU a 57-42 lead.   The Fleet got back to within in 9 points a few minutes later but misfired on four of their next five possessions as NGU stretched their lead back to double-digits at 76-59.  NGU won the game 82 to 67.

Erskine returns home for their next two games.  The Fleet hosts the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College on Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. while the Falcons of Pfeiffer University visit Belk Arena on Saturday.  Game time is also set for 5:30 p.m.

Box Score