HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Despite a sluggish three and a half quarters of play, the Anderson University women's basketball team was able to overcome a determined Coker team to win in overtime, 77-74, in South Atlantic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
With the win, Anderson moves to 12-5 overall and 6-3 in conference action while Coker falls to 6-9 overall and 3-6 SAC play.
Anderson graduate student Alexis Dillard paced the Trojans with a team-high 21 points. Dillard shot 5-of-8 from the floor and was 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Sophomore Madison Baggett scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and 3-of-3 from behind the arc. Freshman Taylor Hair chipped in 12 points scoring six huge points in the decisive overtime period.
Coker placed two players in double-figures with Shay Jackson scoring a career-high 27 points draining 5-of-5 3-point baskets. Hayley Kropp finished the game with 19 points and five rebounds after scoring 15 first half points.
Coker claimed a 34-31 first half advantage after leading the Trojans by as many as 11.
Anderson regained the lead with 6:20 left in the third period for a brief stint before the Cobras reeled off five straight. Anderson's Baggett stopped the run after a made jumper. However, Coker answered right away with a 9-0 run pushing its lead back to 11. Anderson was able to cut the lead to eight on a made jumper by junior Ace Easter as the horn sounded to end the third period.
The Black and Gold battled hard the entire fourth period putting together a late surge to pull within one with 3:02 remaining in the contest. Coker regrouped and was able to hold off the Trojans extending its lead to three with 30 seconds remaining. After a missed 3-point effort by the Trojans, AU's Kaylee Koerperich pulled down the offensive rebound drawing a foul. Koerperich made both free throws pulling the Trojans within one with 17 ticks remaining. Anderson was forced to foul sending Kropp to the line. Kropp's made free throws pushed the lead to three with 13.4 to go in regulation. Following a Trojans timeout, Anderson found an open Mollenhauer who drained the 3-point basket sending the game into overtime.
Clutch free throw shooting (6-of-7) and back-to-back made jumpers by Hair helped the Trojans complete the comeback.
EXTRA DRIBBLE
-Since joining the SAC, the Trojans are 7-2 in overtime games versus SAC opponents.
-Today's victory marks the eight straight win over the Cobras.
-The Trojans picked up their first win when trailing at the half (1-4).
-Dillard's 11 made free throws was her career high for a single game.
UP NEXT
Anderson remains on the road to finish up its two- game road swing when it travels to SAC foe Tusculum on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. in Greeneville, Tenn.