Lions Fall to Coker, 76-58

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill women's basketball team was denied its first conference win of the season on Monday, January 09, dropping a 76-58 decision to Coker College. The Lions fell to 2-12 overall and 0-8 in the league, while CC improved to 3-10 overall and 2-6 within the conference.

Madison Ervin scored 15 points to lead the Lions, while Raven Brooks contributed a career day, posting her first-ever double-double with personal-bests in points (13) and rebounds (10). Aliyah Farmer chipped in 11 points in the losing effort.

First quarter shooting for each team was as cold as the weather outside as each basket had a figurative lid covering it. A seesaw affair led to an eight-all tie five minutes into the contest. That equally balanced agenda continued the remainder of the frame as the score was knotted at 15-15 after the initial 10 minutes of play.

Coker scored the first 10 points to start the second quarter, exploding out to its biggest lead of the contest, 25-15, before a running bank shot from Sydney Comer put a stop to the run. That lead grew to as many as 18 points (38-20) following a pivotal 13-5 run, spanning 5:16 of clock time, by the Cobras. The Lions added a late basket to trail heading into halftime by a score of 38-22.

The third stanza simulated the first with Mars Hill holding a small 11-10 lead in the frame at the media timeout, but Coker still controlled a 48-33 lead on the scoreboard. Coming out of the timeout the Lions notched four-straight to narrow the deficit to 48-37, however, Coker used another big run, this time 12-2, to gain its biggest lead of the contest at 60-39 heading into the final quarter of play.

Mars Hill outscored the Cobras 19-16 in the fourth, but it was Coker that tallied the 76-58 victory. Mars Hill shot 26.3% from the floor (15-57), including just 1-17 from long range. The Cobras held a 45-40 advantage on the boards and 40-24 points in the paint mark.

Iresha Cooper led the Cobras with a game-high 21 points, while Caitland Considine and Shay Jackson chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. For the game Coker shot 43.3% (26-60) from the floor.

Following the schedule changes due to inclement weather the Lions will make the quick turnaround, playing host to Tusculum on Wednesday. That contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.