COUGARS SPLIT A PAIR OF THRILLERS WITH COLUMBIA STATE

 

When the Cougars and the Chargers get together you can throw out the records because anything can happen. And it did on Saturday afternoon inside L. Quentin Lane Gymnasium as both games between Cleveland State and Columbia State went down to the final buzzer before a winner could be determined.

 

In the end, after the dust had settled, the Lady Cougars (14-4, 10-3) built a huge lead and then had to hold on for dear life as they survived a late scare to post a 64-62 win over the Lady Chargers (7-14, 5-10). The Chargers (21-4, 12-3) came into the men's contest in first place sporting an 11-3 conference mark, but needed a pair of clutch free throws with 4.9 seconds left in the game to post a 58-57 come-from-behind win over the Cougars (9-11, 6-8).

 

The Ladies contest was a game of huge runs with each team taking turns. The Lady Cougars used a 14-0 run in the first quarter to take a 26-11 lead at the first stop. A 15-0 Lady Charger run in the second quarter helped the visitors erase the big lead and cut the deficit to a single point by halftime, 36-35.

 

Both teams shot just under 50% in the first half. Emma Harig and Asjah Harrell tossed in 10 points apiece for Cleveland State while Mya Byrd sizzled the nets for 16 first half points including a tri-fecta of treys. The Lady Cougar defense forced 12 turnovers as well.

 

A 14-0 Cleveland State run to open the second half pushed the lead back to a seemingly comfortable margin, 50-35 but, the Lady Chargers charged right back with a 14-2 run, cutting the lead to only three points, 52-49 by the end of the third frame.

 

A steal and layup from Harrell (she had 6 for the game) an a pair of free tosses by Nicky Jones gave the home team a 56-49 lead to start the fourth frame. But, eight straight points by Denj'za Jackson and Tia Floyd would give the Lady Chargers their first lead of the game, 57-56 midway through the final quarter.

 

An offensive rebound and putback from Harrig, another from Michaela Benefield along with three clutch free throws by Benefield and one more by Kyeshia Dalton would give Cleveland State a 64-62 lead with six seconds to play. The Lady Cougars would then have to survive one last desperation heave from Columbia State that rolled around the rim and fell off to somehow hold on for the big win and remain in second place in the conference standings.

 

Cleveland State assistant coach, Josh Muncey moved up one chair for the game, filling in for head coach Evelyn Thompson who was serving a one game suspension for being ejected from the previous game.

 

"This was a good win for our team, I would have preferred it not go down to the last shot, but we'll take it," explained a very relieved Muncey. "I am more nervous now after the game than I was before it. This is a whole lot different, being in this seat. I'm really proud of the girls. They played hard and overcame a lot of adversity today. We are short-handed to start and then we get two girls hurt in the game, that was tough. Hopefully they will both be O.K. and ready to go on Monday."

 

The Lady Cougars dressed only eight players for the game and suffered two injuries during the contest as Kierston Hudson (knee) did not return and Benefield (ankle) did hobble back in the game.

 

Harig led the way for Cleveland State with 20 points, Benefield limped her way to 13 points and 16 rebounds and Harrell finished with 16 points. Byrd and Floyd paced the Lady Chargers with 19 and 15 points respectively.