Lions Cruise to Win Over Coker

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team got back on the winning track with a convincing win over Coker on Saturday, February 20 inside of Stanford Arena. The Lions run their record to 14-11 overall and 13-7 within the conference, while the Cobras fall to 9-17, 8-12. Four players scored in double figures to help lead the Blue and Gold to the win.

Ansley Ricker led the way offensively as she poured in a team-high 17 points on 5-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-4 from deep. Cadence Wilmoth and Genice Lane chipped in 16 each and Lane connected on all three of her long range attempts. Kelsey Espinosa rounded out the top scorers with 12 points while also grabbing a game-high eight boards.

The Lions blistered the nets from downtown, hitting on 77.8% of their shots (7-9) while also shooting 40.4% from the field (19-47). The defense was very assertive on the evening holding CC to an abysmal 25.4 % shooting (15-59). MHU won the battle of the boards 41-37 and forced 22 mishaps from the Cobras. The Lions also took advantage of their attempts from the charity stripe by knocking down 32-of-40.

Coker was able to take the lead at 4-2 after a pair of free throws from Jazz Green with 5:45 left in the opening quarter. However, Espinosa connected on a layup to knot the match at four-all and Lane hit her first three of the game to give the home team a 7-4 advantage and from that point they never trailed. The Lions finished the quarter on a 6-2 run to earn a 13-6 lead after one.

The second quarter was all Mars Hill as it continued to build off the momentum from the first quarter. Coker was able to cut the margin to 17-13 after a three from Green, but a massive 21-7 run to end the half from the Lions watched them sit comfortably ahead 38-20 at the intermission.

That 18-point lead would remain intact halfway through the third quarter and a pair of free throws from Wilmoth followed by a layup from Espinosa ignited another massive run for the Lions, this time to the tune of 14-0 to give MHU its biggest lead at 63-31 with just over two minutes left to play in the third quarter.

The lead would not be in jeopardy the rest of the night as Mars Hill cruised to a convincing 77-53 victory.

The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, February 24 as they welcome Tusculum to Stanford Arena for a South Atlantic Conference showdown. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.