Basketball (W)

November 10, 2017

Women's Basketball Opens With Win Over Mount Olive

HICKORY, N.C. -- Catawba canned a dozen three-pointers and pushed past Mount Olive to post a 94-81 win in women’s basketball action on Friday afternoon at Shuford Gym. It was the opener for both teams in games hosted by Lenoir-Rhyne at the SAC/CC Challenge.

Freshman Taisha DeShazo led the Catawba Indians with 23 points. She went 7-of-11 from the field with a trio of three-pointers and was perfect on six shots at the line. Seniors Marshauna Butler and Serena Brown each added 16 points with Brown handing out nine assists. Elizabeth Webb joined DeShazo and Brown by hitting on three three-pointers. Brianna Hodges also reached double figures with 11 points.

Mount Olive took an early 9-4 edge, but the Lady Indians rallied to lead 20-19 after a quarter. The Trojans scored the first seven points of the second quarter before Catawba again regrouped. Webb hit a pair of three-pointers, including one with 20 seconds left to give the Lady Indians a 36-32 edge at the break

The third quarter mirrored the first two with Mount Olive surging early. An 8-0 run was capped by a layup from Jada Bacchus for a 40-36 lead. The Lady Indians responded with a 15-6 run to lead 51-46 after DeShazo’s three-pointer with 5:46 to go in the quarter. Catawba took a 62-57 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Catawba’s first four baskets of the second half all came from long range. Brown opened the final quarter with a triple and was followed by Morgan Franklin, DeShazo and Butler as the lead grew to 74-62 with 6:24 remaining. Mount Olive never responded and the Lady Indians pushed the edge to as many as 17 in the closing minutes.

Felicity Havens tossed in 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Trojans. Ni’Ya Styles added 13 points, while Bacchus scored 11. Mount Olive shot 46%, but connected on five fewer three-pointers and four less free throws. Catawba also helped cause 21 turnovers, while committing just 12.

Catawba returns to the court on Saturday, taking on Barton at 4:30 pm.

Box Score