Box Score Tigerville, SC – Coming off their short road trip, the Crusaders came back to Tigerville in a resounding way as they defeated the Flying Fleet of Erskine College 72 – 56. The Crusaders came out hot and never looked back as they led the Flying Fleet from the second minute of the game off a Journey Muhammed (Freshman) three-pointer. Coach Angle McGowan’s troops showed how good they can truly be as they scored at will on the Flying Fleet retaining their position lead in the conference standings.
1st Quarter
The team came out hot, scoring 9 out of the first 11 points in the game. Karen Donehew (Junior) and Haylee Luttrell (Freshman), the leading scorers for the Crusaders, got the game started scoring back-to-back baskets. After under scoring in their latest contests the Crusaders really showed their offensive prowess shooting nearly 40% from the field in the half. The Crusaders worked their lead thanks to baskets from Ty Saunders (Sophomore), Kira Bell (Sophomore), and another three-pointer by Muhammed.
2nd Quarter
Coming into the second quarter the Crusaders held a 12-point lead over the Flying Fleet and that lead continued to grow throughout the quarter. Partly thanks to Muhammed who scored the first five points in the quarter. As the Crusaders offense was not lacking neither was their defense. Erskine’s baskets came at a premium and the Crusaders played a smothering style of defense. Donehew and Bell posted steals in the quarter and Natalie Averett (Sophomore) was a rim protector blocking multiple shots in the quarter.
3rd Quarter
The Crusaders came out of the locker room with the same fervor that they had in the first half as they started the half with a 14 – 2 run. That run lasted nearly half of the quarter as the story followed the Crusader defense forcing the Flying Fleet to take contested shots from long range. Donehew posted two of her blocks back-to-back in the quarter asserting her dominance in the paint. She then scored five of the last eight points in the quarter for the Crusaders.
4th Quarter
In the last quarter of play, the Crusaders brought the game home by matching the scoring from the Flying Fleet. The Crusaders posted their largest lead of the game late in the third quarter at 26-points and the team stayed constant around the 20-point mark throughout the quarter. As the Crusaders saw the game through defeating the Flying Fleet 72 – 56.
Individual
Journey Muhammed finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assist.
Karen Donehew posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 3 assists, 3 steals, and 5 blocks.
Ty Saunders scored 9 points, collected 5 rebounds, and dished 3 assists.
Upcoming
The Crusaders look to start a winning streak down the back stretch of the season as they take on Converse College in Tigerville on Saturday, February 9th. Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.
