Lions open up 2019 home schedule versus Bluefield State

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team (0-4) fell to visiting Bluefield State (2-2) by a score of 77-66 in their 2019-20 home opener Wednesday night.

The Big Blues opened the contest on an 11-2 run just under four minutes into the contest.  Leading 11-6 with 2:22 left in the opening quarter, Bluefield State closed out the frame on an 8-4 run to take an eight point advantage into the second.

Mars Hill responded by outscoring Bluefield State 18-15 in the second quarter.  The Lions found themselves down by as many as 12 points with just under seven minutes to play in the first half.  A Tatum Boggs three-pointer was the catalyst for a 7-2 run that pulled the Lions within seven. Down by nine with 1:33 remaining, recorded seven straight points to pull within two before a Sydney Coleman three-pointer with five seconds left in the half gave the Big Blues the 34-29 lead heading into the half.

An explosive third quarter for Bluefield State saw them outscore the Lions 23-9 with Kylah Webb recording 10 points in the quarter.  Alexus Tucker netted eight in the frame. The Big Blues carried a 57-38 lead into the final 10 minutes of play.

Mars Hill, similar to the second quarter, outscored Bluefield State, this time by a score of 28-20.  The Lions opened the frame on an 11-2 run to cut the deficit down to 10 with 6:35 remaining.  It would be the closest the Lions would come for the remainder of the game.  The trio of Selby Baughman, Lahaina Bell, and Mallory Gardner each recorded five points in the quarter while De'Ja Marshall had a team-high eight.

Webb led all players with 19 points while collecting eight rebounds.  Tucker and Kara Sandy each added 13 points.  Marshall led the Lions with 17 points followed by Gardner's 11 on the night.  Gabby Gianikos led the team with seven rebounds and three assists while adding six points.

The Lions travel on Friday evening to take on Warren Wilson with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m.