VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Eckerd women's basketball team battled back and forth with Columbus State (Ga.) but ultimately fell, 60-57, as the Cougars pulled ahead late in the fourth quarter of the opening contest of the Valdosta State Thanksgiving Tournament Friday night at The Complex.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Columbus State 60, Eckerd 57
Records: Eckerd 2-1; Columbus State 4-0
KEY MOMENTS
- The Tritons got on the board early as Mikayla Kuehne laid in a basket to start the game. Two made free throws from Leeaysia Williamson and a jumper from Chrisalyn Boston pulled Columbus State right back as they took a 4-2 lead. A Zoe Richards 3-pointer started an 11-4 run as EC took the lead 13-8. The Cougars scored five straight points to tie the game at 13 points apiece to end the first quarter.
- A layup for Boston and another by Jurnee Smith gave Columbus State a quick four-point lead at the start of the second. An Octavia Loll triple opened a stretch of seven straight points as EC took a 20-17 lead. The teams traded points until Eckerd went on a 5-2 run over the final minute and a half heading into halftime with a 29-27 lead.
- The Cougars jumped out early again in the third with a jump shot from Boston to tie the game at 29-29. Another triple from Loll sent Eckerd on a 15-4 run over the next four minutes giving the Tritons their largest lead of the game of 11 points. Columbus State answered with 13 straight points to finish the third quarter with a 46-44 lead.
- Richards laid in the first bucket of the fourth for Eckerd, but the Cougars quickly answered with a layup. The teams battled back and forth into the final minute of the game as Columbus State built up a five-point lead with just 15 seconds remaining. A three-pointer from Richards brought EC back within two points, but a free-throw by Kaihla Carter sealed the deal in the final seconds.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Maya Price led EC with 14 points as three other Tritons scored in double digits.
- Richards led Eckerd with seven boards as Abby Whiteye and Kuehne also had six apiece
- Eneritz Larranaga dished out a season-high six assists and grabbed four steals.
- Eckerd had an uncharacteristic 27 turnovers throughout the contest, while Columbus State also had 23.
QUOTABLE
"The team battled defensively today and did a great job on the boards, but we were too careless with the ball, and it caught up with us. Tomorrow is another opportunity to improve upon our struggles today. We are looking forward to another chance tomorrow," said head coach
Paul Honsinger
UP NEXT
Eckerd is back in action Saturday night as they take on Georgia Southwestern State University at 6:00 PM to wrap up play in the Valdosta State Thanksgiving Tournament.
