Marshall records 25 on road versus Cobras

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Mars Hill women's basketball team (2-7, 0-3 SAC) fell to Coker (3-3, 1-2 SAC) by a score of 74-66 on the road Saturday afternoon.

The Cobras outscored Mars Hill 25-14 in the opening frame, highlighted by an 11-2 run in the first 2:53 of the contest.  The Lions were able to pull within four with less than five minutes to play, but Coker responded with another 6-0 run to push their lead to double-digits, a mark that held until the second quarter.  Erin Houser and Alexis Pardue led their respective teams with seven points apiece.

Mars Hill was able to top Coker in the second stanza, 18-15, with De'Ja Marshall leading the way offensively, scoring six points.  The Lions opened the second on a 6-2 run in the opening 3:45 to cut the Coker lead down to 27-20.  An 8-0 run late in the frame pulled Mars Hill within four, but four straight points in the final minute by Houser gave the Cobras an eight point lead after 20 minutes of play.

In the lowest scoring quarter of the contest, the Cobras outscored Mars Hill 17-14 to carry an 11-point lead into the final quarter of play.  The Lions narrowed the deficit to six with with 5:24 remaining in the stanza before a Coker 7-1 run rebuilt the double-digit lead.

Marshall paced the Lions' offense in the final frame, going 4-of-5 from the floor for 10 of her game-high 25 points.  She collected five rebounds in the fourth as well as two assists.  Entering the fourth down by 11, the Lions clawed to within three, 67-64, following an 11-1 run, beginning with just over five minutes left in the contest.  With 1:49 remaining, Coker ended the contest on a 6-2 run to close out the Lions.

Houser led the Cobras with 20 points followed by Jalah Horton's 12 on the day.  Both Saquita Joyner and Ashauntee Nelson added 11 points.  Houser's 12 rebounds led all players as she collected the double-double.

Marshall had a team-high nine rebounds followed by Pardue's six.  Pardue ended the day with 17 points while Mallory Gardner added nine points off the bench.

The Lions return to action on Saturday, December 14 when they host Catawba inside Chambers Gymnasium.  Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.