Lions Fall to Catawba
MARS HILL, N.C.- Catawba rode hot shooting to a 78-44 victory over Mars Hill Wednesday evening in South Atlantic Conference action at Stanford Arena.
The Indians shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the field in the win. Mars Hill was paced by Cadence Wilmoth with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting to go along with five rebounds. Taylor May paced three Catawba players in double figures with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Mars Hill is now 5-18 overall and 2-13 in SAC play. Catawba is 14-9 overall and 10-5 in conference play.
Erica Warren and Ansley Ricker added eight points-apiece for Mars Hill. Taylor Tate dished out a career-high four assists to go along with four points. The Lions shot 33.9 percent from the field (19-of-56).
Chloe Bully added 13 points and four assists for Catawba. Antionette McPhail chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds. All but one Catawba player scored in the game. The Indians held a 36-26 advantage in the paint.
Catawba blew a tight first-half game open with a 12-2 run. After a Wilmoth three-point play cut the Indian lead to 17-14 with 10:16 to play in the first half, the Indians scored six straight on buckets by Whitby and May and a pair of free throws by McPhail. May and McPhail each scored four points during the run which oushed the lead to 29-16 with 5:50 to play.
The Indians would lead by as much as 18 in the first half and took a 44-26 advantage into the half. Catawba shot 63 percent from the field in the half (17-of-27), while Mars Hill hit 12-of-28 from the field (42.9 percent).
The Lions would get no closer than 18 in the second half. Catawba scored 14 points off turnovers in the half.
Mars Hill will host Tusculum this Saturday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m. in Stanford Arena.