The Cleveland State Lady Cougars got the new year off to a rocking start on Wednesday night at L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium as they shook off a slow start to post a convincing, 82-63 win over the Motlow State Lady Bucks. The men were not able to play due to covid protocols and will count as a no-contest for both teams.

 

The odds seemed stacked against the home team as they only had six ladies dressed for the contest due to injury, sickness and other factors. But in the end it would not be a factor at all as the Lady Cougars (8-2, 5-1) dominated the boards for most of the night and rode a stout defensive effort all the way to the win.

 

"I was not happy with the way we played in the first half, we were not listening and executing like we were supposed to," commented Lady Cougar coach Evelyn Thompson. "Give Motlow credit, they are gonna play hard for 40 minutes and they just kept coming. But, in the end it was a win and a conference win and we'll take it."

 

The lead changed hands eight times in the early going. Jheilaa Thomas hit a pair of buckets for Motlow State (2-13, 1-6) to give the visitors the lead, 12-10 midway through the first quarter. But, after that the Lady Cougars regained the lead and finished the first frame with a 10-0 run and would never trail in the game again. Emma Harig took control of the paint with a pair of offensive rebounds and putbacks and Kyeisha Dalton converted a three-point play to help Cleveland State hold a 20-12 lead.

 

An 10-2 run midway through the second quarter helped the Lady Cougars push their lead to double digits. Asjah Harrell tossed in a pair of short jumpers and a layup while Michaela Bennefield tossed in a pair of tough buckets in the paint as the home team would hold a 38-24 halftime advantage.

 

The Lady Cougars defensive pressure began to wear down the Lady Bucks in the second half causing several turnovers (23 for the game, 11 in the second half).Thomas almost single-handedly kept Motlow State in the game by scoring from nearly every point on the floor with 13 points in the third quarter as Cleveland State would hold a 55-43 lead at the third stop.

 

The home team finally put the game out of reach early in the final quarter as Bennefield continued her good work in the paint with a couple of baskets, Kiersten Hudson added a pair of steals for easy layups and Harrell did the same with several steals and layups to help Cleveland State cruise to the big Region win.

 

All five starters hit double digit point totals for Cleveland State and three Lady Cougars recorded double-doubles. Harig led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, Bennefield finished with 19 points and 12 boards, Harrell had a great night with 19 points, 11 boards and six assists, Dalton added 13 points and six steals while Hudson had 10 points and four steals. Thomas led the Lady Bucks with 22 points, Jada Johnson added 15 points and Haley Homelsey finished with 11 points. Cleveland State won the battle of the boards 47-34.

 

The Lady Cougars will travel to Columbia State on Saturday and to Chattanooga State next Wednesday