CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (2-3) bounced back with an 86-50 home win on Education Day over Erskine on Monday morning (Nov. 17). The Blue Hose outscored the Flying Fleet 49-26 in the second half, also forcing 36 Erskine turnovers to end a three-game losing streak.
Aminata Tal led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Ja'Cia Cunningham poured it on in the final period for PC, scoring 14 in the 4th quarter to finish the day with 19 points.
Allie Sykes stayed hot from three, draining four of her nine attempts to score 15. Ore Ogunwolere also scored in double figures for PC, pitching in 10 to go along with six assists. As a team, Presbyterian was efficient offensively, shooting 47.1 percent from the field while making 41.2 percent of its threes.
Defensively, PC was all over Erskine throughout the game. The Blue Hose recorded 17 steals for the contest with Ogunwolere leading the way with six. Cunningham had four steals of her own, while Amani Williams posted two.
Shelby Fiddler, Aretha Linger, and Krystal Haddock were unavailable again for the Blue Hose.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Alie Sykes got PC's offense going early, drilling a three off a Daniella Velez assist on Presbyterian's opening possession. Aminata Tal followed with a layup to give PC a quick 5-0 lead. Erskine responded with a 10-2 run to take a 10-7 lead halfway through the first quarter. Tal scored PC's next five points to allow the Blue Hose to retake the lead with under two minutes to play. In the final two minutes, Sykes made another three to help PC finish the quarter on a 7-0 run. Through 10 minutes, PC led 19-14 over the Flying Fleet.
Second Quarter
Sykes made her third three of the morning before Erskine rallied to cut the lead to just 22-20. Right after, Sykes ended the Erskine run with her fourth three of the day, jumpstarting a PC run the rest of the quarter. Tal continued to have the hot hand in the first half, helping the Blue Hose push the lead to double digits with under four minutes left. In the closing minutes, Velez made a three to extend the Presbyterian lead to 37-24 going into the break. In the first half, Tal led all scorers with 15.
Third Quarter
Tal continued to dominate offensively out of the half, making her only three of the game on PC's first possession. Samantha Mullock followed with her first basket of the game to give PC a 42-24 advantage. Erskine stayed within 20 for several minutes before Ogunwolere got going for the Blue Hose, putting PC up 52-30 halfway through the quarter. Late in the period, Velez and Ja'cia Cunningham got in on the action, boosting the Presbyterian lead to 26 going into the final period. In the third quarter, PC outscored the Flying Fleet 23-10 and held Erskine to just 3-of-13 shooting from the field.
Fourth Quarter
Cunningham took over the game in the final period for PC, scoring 10 points in the first four minutes to push the PC lead to 35. Yolanda Floyd also contributed, scoring six in the final quarter to finish the morning shooting 3-of-4 from the field. Cunningham stayed hot late in the game, ending with the quarter with 14 points. As a team, PC saved its best for last, scoring 26 points in the fourth quarter on over 50 percent shooting from the field. The Blue Hose ultimately came away with a blowout victory, winning 86-50.
NOTABLES
- Aminata Tal finished the day one-point short of her career-high. Her 20 points against Erskine is the most she's scored since she had 21 at N.C. Central on Dec. 11, 2024.
- Daniella Velez scored nine for PC, two off of her career-high of 11 (Jan. 4, 2025 vs. Gardner-Webb).
- PC has forced 124 turnovers so far this season, averaging out to 24.8 per game. The Blue Hose scored 41 points off of turnovers against the Flying Fleet.
- Allie Sykes has made at least two threes in four of her first five collegiate games for PC. She is shooting 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the three point line to start the season.
- Through five games, Ogunwolere has recorded 13 steals.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will be back on the road to face UNC Wilmington on Friday morning (Nov. 21) at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+.
