Box Score Banner Elk, N.C. – Sophomore Tara Potter (Sherrills Ford, NC, Bandys High School) earned her first collegiate “double-double” as the Erskine Flying Fleet fell to the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College 77 to 65 tonight in Conference Carolinas women’s basketball action at Williams Gymnasium.

Potter scored a career-high 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Fleet.  She also had two assists and two blocks.  JuniorLindsey Weidenaar (Evans, GA, Lakeside High School) also had her best night of the season so far, dropping in 12 points and pulling down 4 rebounds.

The Bobcats were led by Layana De Souza’s 27 points.  Kerri Belcher added 17 points while Kabrina Truesdale scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds.

In the first half, Erskine trailed by as many as 13 points but trimmed the Lees-McRae lead to just three points by intermission at 34 to 31.  With four minutes left to play, the Fleet outscored the Bobcats 18 to 7 to close out the half.   Potter led the effort, scoring 8 points, while Weidenaar drilled a three-point shot in the last twenty seconds to make the score 34 to 31.

The Fleet continued to play well to open the second half.  Potter found Sha'Niqua Whitley (Columbia, SC, Ridge View High School)cutting to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 38 apiece and on the Fleet’s ensuing possession Potter hit a mid-range jumper to give Erskine their first lead since the opening minutes of the first period.

Lees-McRae regained the lead and held it until midway the final period when junior Rosa Powell (Lilburn, GA, Brookwood High School) hit a 3-point shot to put the Fleet up by two points at 51 to 49.  Following a basket by the Bobcats, the Fleet extended their lead to six points on another three-point basket by Powell and a jumper by Weidenaar. 

Unfortunately, during one stretch in the final minutes, Erskine turned the ball over on five of six possessions fueling a 15 to 3 run by the Bobcats.  Erskine never recovered, losing 77 to 65.

Erskine remains on the road travelling to Wilson, North Carolina, on Saturday to play conference-leading Barton College.  Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.