Strong Fourth Quarter Pushes Ladies Basketball past Schreiner, 56-50

SHREVEPORT, La. – Leading by one after three quarters, the Ladies led by as much as 10 in the fourth, while senior Jasmine Morris iced the game away by making 5-of-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute of the contest as Centenary (5-13, 3-6 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) picked up a huge conference win against Schreiner (3-16, 3-6 SCAC) 56-50 Sunday afternoon, January 27.

Late in the third tied at 33, Centenary split from the line to take a one-point lead into the fourth. Both teams traded baskets to begin the fourth quarter until senior Savanah Doty dialed it up from distance to jumpstart a Ladies 9-0 run. After Schreiner missed a pair from the line, Centenary made the visitors pay as junior Deunya Small and sophomore Ethany Cosby made layups in consecutive possessions.

Centenary punctuated the spurt with a steal and then a layup from sophomore Haylee Washington to extend the lead to 45-35 with 7:32 left in the contest. Centenary never led by less than four the rest of the way.

Doty made 3-for-12 from distance and five field goals in all for the game to lead all scorers with 15. Morris chipped in 11, thanks to a 9-for-12 mark from the charity stripe. Washington and junior Deunya Small each grabbed nine boards.

It was a tight ballgame throughout, featuring 14 lead changes and eight ties. After Schreiner raced out to a five-point lead halfway through the first quarter, Centenary made a layup. Neither team led by more than three until early in the fourth quarter after a Doty three.

After Centenary fell behind by five points in the first, the Ladies scored seven unanswered to take the lead. Sophomore Bre Frierson made a layup, classmate Darelzray Bellard hit a pair from the line, and Morris split from the charity stripe to tie up the game at seven. With under a minute remaining in the first, Small grabbed an offensive board and made the putback to give Centenary a 9-7 lead.

Schreiner's Josline Hernandez hit a fastbreak three to end the quarter as the visitors held a slim 10-9 lead after one.

Centenary began the scoring with a layup, but seven unanswered by the Mountaineers gave them their biggest lead of the game. Sydney Williams hit a layup and Hernandez drained a three. Sydney Williams then made a layup.

Williams finished the game with a double-double, recording 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Centenary returns to action Friday, February 1, with its second game in as many contest against Schreiner. Game time in Kerrville, Texas, is set for 5:30 p.m.