CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team held South Carolina State to 14 points in the first half and 20.3 percent shooting on the afternoon en route to a 46-33 win over the Bulldogs at Templeton Center on Saturday.
PC improves to 3-3 and will host Gardner-Webb on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the team's Big South Conference opener. SC State falls to 3-1 and hosts Wofford on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Blue Hose led 18-14 at halftime and used a 28-19 second half to seal the win. Freshman Cortney Storey (Fayetteville, Tenn.) paced the team in scoring for the first time in her career with 10 points and three assists while sophomore guard Aianna Kelly (Newport News, Va.) added a game-high nine rebounds. Kourtney Williams led the visitors with 11 points and six boards.
PC stole the ball a season-high 17 times as well.
PC jumped out to a 12-2 lead midway through the opening half and kept its double-digit lead into the final three minutes, thanks in part to points from seven different Blue Hose and four first-half points each from Allie Wagner (Easley, S.C.) and Keyonna Allen (Forest Park, Ga.).
SC State shaved PC's lead to four before halftime with consecutive three-pointers from Amber Howard and Kourtney Williams for an 18-14 tally at the break.
After halftime, the Blue Hose bumped its lead back to 11 on a Storey trey before the Bulldogs began to claw back. Jazzmine Johnson hit a three and Howard scored another shortly after to pull within five, 29-24. Jasmine Coleman then converted a jumper to make it 29-26 with 8:30 to go.
The Blue Hose would not be denied, however, as Miles knocked down a three of her own and Noelle Carter (Neptune, N.J.) drained two crucial free throws. PC survived a few PC points before Storey hit from distance to restore a 10-point lead with 3:31 to go, 39-29. The home side took advantage of desperation fouls to swell its lead to 15 in the final minute as PC pulled away for the win, 46-33.
PC held its opponent to 45 points or fewer for the fourth straight game. SC State's 20.3 shooting percentage (12-for-59), 33 points and 14 points in a half marked season-low for PC foes.
