Posted: Feb 25, 2015
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Seniors Blakeley
Burleson, Brianna Mitchell and Rainey Story scored a combined 24
points in their final game at Pioneer Arena, but Anderson
University defeated the Tusculum College Women's basketball team
69-51 to clinch a share of the 2014-15 South Atlantic Conference
regular season championship on Wednesday night in Greeneville.
Junior guard Shynese Whitener led the Pioneers (6-18, 6-15
SAC) with 12 points, while Story and Burleson each added 10.
Sophomore guard Maelyn Cutshaw tallied nine points, while junior
forward Kristen McMillion pulled-down a game-high 11 rebounds to go
with two blocks, two assists, and three steals.
Anderson (22-3, 19-2) was led by Sierra Simpson who had a
game-high 14 points, while Leslie Woods hit four three-pointers to
finish with 12 points. The Trojan defense held the Pioneers to a
season-low 25.4 percent shooting percentage and out-rebounded TC
54-36. Tusculum was also held to just one three pointer but did
shoot 88.9 percent from the free throw stripe.
Mitchell scored the first bucket of the game to give TC its
only lead of the contest. AU jumped out to a 27-10 lead midway
through the first half, but the Pioneers reeled off 10-straight
points to cut the deficit to just seven at the 6:40 mark of the
opening frame.
The Trojans increased their lead back to 11 at 33-22, but was
held without a point for the final three minutes of the first half.
TC scored six points during that frame, and trailed by just 33-28
at the break. TC equaled AU with 14 points each in the paint during
the first period, and had an 11-9 advantage in fast break
points.
TC was able to keep the lead under double-digits for the first
six minutes of the second half, but a 14-2 run by the Trojans gave
them their largest lead of the game at 67-45 with 3:16 remaining.
Tusculum scored six of the game's final eight points, but was dealt
the 18-point defeat.
Tusculum will conclude its 2014-15 season this Saturday in
Hartsville, South Carolina against Coker College. Tipoff against
the Cobras is set for 2 p.m.
- TC -