MIAMI, Fla. – The Presbyterian College women's basketball team (2-6) opened the FIU Thanksgiving Classic on Friday afternoon (Nov. 28) with a 72-61 defeat to Seattle at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
The Blue Hose led 17-13 after the first quarter but were outscored in the last three quarters 59-44 to drop their third straight game. PC got within four with just five minutes to play in the game but was ultimately unable to get closer.
Ja'Cia Cunningham scored a game-high and season-high 25 points on 10-19 shooting from the field to lead Presbyterian. She also led the team in rebounding, grabbing 7 boards in 24 minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Blue Hose got out to a fast start in Miami, taking a quick 7-2 lead over the Redhawks after Morgan Boyd drilled a three. Neither team scored in the next few minutes before Ja'Cia Cunningham took over the scoring for PC. Cunningham scored 8 of PC's final 10 points in the quarter, including a layup on Presbyterian's final possession to give PC a 17-13 lead after the opening period. Through 10 minutes, the Blue Hose shot 70 percent (7-of-10) from the field and held Seattle to just 35.6 percent shooting.
Second Quarter
The Blue Hose struggled from the field for most of the second period. Laetitia Kamdoum scored her first points of the game on a jumper to give PC a 19-13 advantage before the Blue Hose went on a scoring drought. Seattle followed with an 11-1 run that lasted nearly four minutes to put the Redhawks on top 24-20. Daniella Velez ended the run with a layup, but Seattle kept the momentum going to take a 28-22 lead with three minutes left. Despite struggling from the floor, PC got hot to finish the half, closing the last two minutes on a 7-0 run to take the lead. Aminata Tal completed a three-point play in the final seconds to give the Blue Hose a 29-28 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
The two teams traded leads from one another in the opening minutes of the second half. Seattle made a three to grab a four-point lead before Cunningham quickly helped PC cut the deficit back to one. However, the Redhawks established a lead right after, going up 45-39 with under three minutes to go. Cunningham and Tal made baskets to help PC inch closer to Seattle, but the Blue Hose still trailed 48-44 going into the final quarter. In the third, Cunningham scored 7 of PC's 15 points.
Fourth Quarter
Seattle started off the final period strong, taking its largest lead of the game up 53-44. Four free throws and a jumper from Velez got the Blue Hose back within four down 54-50 halfway through the fourth, but that was the closest the Blue Hose would get the rest of the game. Seattle embarked on a 7-1 run to go up double digits with three minutes left and did not look back. As a team, the Redhawks shot 60 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, claiming a 72-61 win.
NOTABLES
- Ja'Cia Cunningham scored in double figures for the 4th time this season and the 23rd time in her career.
- Cunningham hit the 20-point mark for the sixth time in her career and the first time in a PC uniform.
- Morgan Boyd made the second three of her career in the first quarter.
UP NEXT
The Blue Hose will finish play at the FIU Thanksgiving Classic against UMBC on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 11:00 a.m.
