DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine women's basketball team (0-3, 0-2 CC) lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds 62-61 against Allen University (1-0, 0-0) in Belk Arena on Thursday.
 
THE ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | Conf. Carolinas Digital Network

THE SERIES
Erskine lost for the first time to Allen in five meetings in the series. The Fleet had won every game played with the Yellow Jackets since the 2011-12 season. Tonight's game was the third ever played in Due West and the first between the two teams since the 2013-14 season.

THE GAME
The Fleet outscored the Yellow Jackets 17-15 in each of the first two quarters and took a four-point lead into the halftime break. Erskine extended its lead to five points going into the fourth quarter. But, a 10-2 run by Allen to open the quarter propelled the Yellow Jackets into their first lead of the second half. Erskine battled back into what became a back-and-forth affair in the closing stages. The Fleet had the ball with 6.7 seconds remaining and the game tied at 61, but a turnover on the inbound pass followed by a Shanece Mitchell foul, gave Allen a chance to win the game in regulation. The Yellow Jackets' Jayda Jackson split the free throws and was the difference in a 1-point loss for the Fleet.

THE PLAYER
Osha Makerson came just an assist shy of posting a triple-double. The sophomore finished the game with 10 points, 9 assists, and a career-high 10 steals, but struggled from the field, shooting just 4-21 and 1-6 from the 3-point line.

THE TEAM
Erskine also struggled to make shots as a team, shooting just 39% from the field, and 22% (5-23) from beyond the arc. The Fleet were active defensively, and tallied 22 steals, forced 32 Allen turnovers, and converted that into 29 points. Allen shot 46% from the field and 35% (6-17) from deep.

WHAT'S NEXT 
The Fleet have three days off before beginning a four-game week which starts with a trip to Converse College (1-3, 0-3 CC) on Monday, January 25 at 7:00 PM.
 
Although the Fleet have won just two of the previous five meetings with the Valkyries, Erskine owns a 20-6 advantage in the all-time series, including collecting 12 straight victories over Converse from 2011-12 to 2017-18.

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