Cobras Off to 3-0 Start in the SAC

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The ninth-ranked Coker women's basketball team battled to a 69-58 South Atlantic Conference victory over visiting Newberry on Wednesday night  inside the DeLoach Center. 

Four players scored in double figures led by junior forwards Kamari Thompson's 16 points to go with 10 rebounds for her third straight double double. Senior guard Shawnteanna Tillman added 15 points, while graduate student forward Janay Legagneur and redshirt sophomore guard Yasmine Cook each added 10 points. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

#9 Coker 7-1 (3-0 SAC) | Newberry 6-3 (0-3 SAC)

• Coker's 7-1 start to the season matches each of the previous two seasons for the best start in program history. 

• The Cobras started 3-0 in the SAC for the second straight season. 

• Coker shot 43.4 percent (23-53) from the floor and 33.3 percent (3-8) from 3-point range. 

• The Cobras outrebounded Newberry 34-32. 

• Shawnteanna Tillman's 15 points moved her career total to 988, 12 away from 1,000.  

• Kamari Thompson's 10 rebounds moved her career total to 761, 21 boards away from moving up to fourth-place on Coker's career list. 

TOP PERFORMERS:

Kamari Thompson: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists

Shawnteanna Tillman: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Janay Legagneur: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists

Yasmine Cook: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Shawnteanna Tillman's three-pointer in the opening seconds got the scoring started, but Newberry responded with a 6-0 run to take a 6-5 lead early in the first quarter. The Wolves pushed their advantage to 14-7 before the Cobras answered with a 9-0 run to regain the lead and carry an 18-16 edge into the quarter break.

Newberry opened the second quarter with five straight points to move back in front. The Wolves held the lead until a Kamari Thompson lay-up at the 1:54 mark put Coker ahead 28-27. The Cobras closed the half with a 30-27 advantage.

The early minutes of the third quarter featured three ties before a Yasmine Cook free throw gave Coker the lead for good. The Cobras stretched the margin to as many as 13 and took a 52-42 lead into the final period.

Newberry trimmed the deficit to 56-53 with 3:45 remaining, but Coker answered with a 5-0 run to create separation and secure the victory.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Coker hits the road this weekend when they visit Mars Hill for a South Atlantic Conference game at 2 PM inside Chambers Gymnasium. The game can be viewed on Flo Sports.