SAVANNAH, Ga. - Armstrong Atlantic State withstood a second-half charge from visiting Anderson, as the Trojan women's basketball team closed out its season-opening four-game road swing with a narrow, 53-50, setback on the final day of action at the Wingate by Wyndham Lady Pirate Classic at the Armstrong Sports Center Saturday afternoon.
The Pirates (4-0) have started the season with four straight wins for the first time since 2002-03 season, while Anderson slipped to 1-3 on the year with the loss.
The Trojans opened with stellar defense, holding the Lady Pirates scoreless for the first 3:50 of the game, forcing three turnovers in the first two minutes, while Armstrong Atlantic misfired on their first four shots. AU capitalized on the Lady Pirate's slow start, as freshman Sierra Simpson scored five of her seven points in the first 2:10 to lift the Trojans to a 7-0 start.
Anderson led 13-10 on a basket by Alissa Diaz midway through the
opening half, but AASU countered with an 18-3 run over the next
eight minutes, while Anderson misfired on seven consecutive
attempts.
Armstrong held a 10-point lead at halftime, 28-18, and the Pirates
pushed that lead to 14 points, 34-20, with 13:29 left in the
contest, but Simpson sparked a Trojan rally with a jumper, while
Maci Siniard added a basket and Tilde Ahlin, Lauren Woods and
Amanda Parris each drained 3-pointers, with Parris hitting two in
just over a two-minute stretch to draw the Trojans even with the
Pirates at 47-47 with 3:06 remaining in the game.
Neither team was able to score over the next 1:40, but junior Demisha Mills' layup with 1:26 left put the Pirates back up by two, 49-47, then freshman Dee Hayward made four free throws in the final 30 seconds to clinch the victory.
Diaz scored a game-high 14 points and dished out a game-high four assists, while Ahlin and Parris each added nine points. Simpson notched seven points and pulled down a season-high seven rebounds from her guard spot.
Armstrong sophomore Mauri Wells notched her fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Pirates, while Mills finished the game with 13 points and Angelia Hill added 11 points.
Armstrong will return to action on Tuesday with against Coastal Georgia, while Anderson plays host to Belmont Abbey in the Trojans' home-opener Tuesday night at the Abney Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
