The SC State women’s basketball team held off a late game run by the University of North Carolina-Asheville, (UNC-A), as they won the non-conference match-up, 67-64, to pick up its first win of the season.  The game was played at the Justice Center on the campus of UNC-A.

SC State (1-3) appeared to be defeated early as they fell behind by six, 9-3, with just over 16 minutes on the clock.  Less than a minute later the Lady Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 9-9.  The teams exchanged baskets over the next 10 minutes with neither team taking more than a two-point lead.  SC State jumped ahead by six, 23-29 at the 2:56 mark, but UNC-A (1-4) put together a 4-0 run to cut the lead to two at the half, 33-31.

UNC-A began the second-half on a 7-0 run to go ahead of SC State by five, 38-33.  The Lady Bulldogs put together a 7-2 run of their own to tie the game at 40-40 at the 14 minute mark.  Over the next four minutes the team exchanged runs until the 10 minute mark when the game was knotted at 49-49. SC State took a two point-lead, 56-54, at the six minute mark and never relinquishing it.  UNC-A make one last push but time ran out as the SC State picked up its first win of the season, 67-64.

“We executed our game plan down the stretch,” said first year head coach Doug Robertson who picked up its first win as the Lady Bulldog head coach.  “We got the ball to the people we needed too and we made our free-throws when it counted.”

For the second game straight the SC State had three players to score in double-figures.  Senior Jenell Moore and junior Sophilia Hipps led the way with 14 points each.  Junior LaKeisha Scott contributed 12 points in the victory.  Moore also led the team in rebounding with seven.

UNC-A was led by Jessica Monroe who scored a game-high 18 points and pulled in eight rebounds.

SC State will close out its four-game road swing Wednesday, Dec. 3, when they travel to Charleston, SC to take on the College of Charleston.  The Lady Bulldogs will return to Smith-Hammond-Middleton next Saturday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. when they host Winston-Salem State.

GAME NOTE: For the first time this season SC State shot over 50% from the field and the free-throw line shooting 59.6% and 53.3% respectively