Box Score ORANGEBURG, S.C. - A hot-shooting second half from the perimeter played a major factor on Saturday afternoon as Claflin (S.C.) University edged the Eckerd Tritons, 58-54.
The Panthers (7-3) made 6-of-8 from 3-point range after halftime, including four in a row in the third quarter where Claflin overcame an eight-point deficit.
The game was tight for the majority of the day with eight ties and 14 lead changes, and every time Eckerd appeared to be on its way to building a cushion, Claflin answered with a 3-pointer. The Panthers entered the day shooting just 28 percent from 3-point range but went 9-of-18 today, the most they have made in a game this season.
"Claflin hit some big 3's in the second half," said EC head coach
Paul Honsinger, "and that really proved to be the difference."
The Tritons took an eight-point lead early in the second half after a layup by
Elisabeth Giegerich, but CU knocked down 3-pointers on its next three possessions to quickly pull back within one. Eckerd held onto the lead, going back up by five before the Panthers closed the quarter on an 8-0 run.
The lead changed hands four times in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers took control for good with 3:35 to play on a 3-pointer by Dominique Williams.
"I was proud of how hard we competed but we had too many turnovers today and missed on some good looks late," Honsinger said.
As Honsinger pointed out, turnovers were an issue for the Tritons as they gave up the ball 20 times. Eckerd also didn't manage to get to the free throw line in the second half as it did in the first, shooting only two from the foul line in the second half and going 11-of-15 in the first half.
Victoria Vine led Eckerd with 13 points while
Ashley Folsom added 10 off the bench while also grabbing nine rebounds.
The Tritons return home to take on Albany State (Ga.) on Thursday, December 17, at 7:00 PM.
