DeLand, Fla. ? Freshman forward Jessica Conner (Cocoa, Fla./Cocoa HS) had 11 points and seven rebounds to lead the Stetson women's basketball team (1-2) to its first win of the 2007-08 campaign, defeating Volusia County rival Bethune-Cookman (0-2) 62-48 tonight at the Edmunds Center. The victory snaps Stetson's 13-game losing streak to non-conference opponents and is its fourth in the last five years over the Wildcats.
Stetson fell behind 12-4 within the first five minutes, but roared back with nine consecutive points to take a 15-12 lead with 10:41 to go that they would not relinquish the rest of the ballgame. Junior center Ayesha Barkley (East Orange, N.J.) scored four points and picked up a steal during that run.
The Wildcats would cut the lead to one point with 7:47 remaining in the first half before the Hatters went on an 11-2 run late in the period and then closed out the first half by scoring the final five points. Stetson led 35-21 at the intermission and would not lead by less than six points throughout the second half.
Twice in the second half Bethune-Cookman made comeback attempts and twice they were rebuffed by key Hatter baskets. A 6-0 Wildcat run that cut the lead to six with 14:26 to play was ended by a Barkley basket approximately 40 seconds later while senior guard Jamie Nesbit's (Peoria, Ariz.) three-pointer with 10:51 to play bumped the lead from 11 to 14 points and effectively ended the B-CU threat.
Conner made five of 10 field goal attempts on the night and registered her team-leading third blocked shot of the season. Junior guard Sharnesha Smith (Kingsland, Ga.) scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists and notched a pair of steals in a strong all-around effort. Freshman guard Brittany Carannante (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater HS) scored a season-high eight points while senior guard Kellie Olson (Tucson, Ariz.) had five points, five boards and a career-high four steals. Overall it was a balanced scoring attack for Stetson as every player on the roster made at least one field goal.
Wildcat forward Natasha Ferguson led all scorers and rebounders with her 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, adding three steals and a block. Guard Demetria Frank had 11 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Stetson shot over 51.6% as a team in the first half and finished at 41.9% while holding B-CU to 32.7% shooting in the game. Both teams struggled from the free throw line as the Hatters shot 50 percent (6-12) while the Wildcats made eight of 13 attempts (61.5%).
Stetson wraps up its season-opening four-game homestand when Coastal Carolina visits the Edmunds Center Saturday, November 16 at 3 p.m.
