SEWANEE, Tenn. (Jan. 15, 2017) – It was not easy, but the Sewanee women's basketball team held on for a 72-69 Southern Athletic Association (SAA) win against rival Rhodes, Sunday, inside Juhan Gymnasium.
Early on, Sewanee controlled the pace. Despite being outsized inside the paint, the Tigers built a 12-6 lead after jumpers from Hannah McCormack, threes by Bella Taylor and Sue Kim, and a pair of free throws from Corey Caulder.
That trend continued the next two possessions. Another three by Kim, and a free throw by Taylor with 1:35 left, gave Sewanee a 10-point lead.
Rhodes answered back with a jumper from Jessie Ustick and a free throw from Danielle Summers.
In the second quarter, Sewanee stayed hot. The Tigers hit 50 percent of their field goals to build their largest lead of the first half, 12, with 4:16 before halftime.
Like they did in the opening quarter, its starters led Sewanee. McCormack led the purple and gold with 14 first-half points. Combined, the five starters scored 34 of the Tigers' 39 opening points.
In the second half, Rhodes responded. The Lynx opened a 14-5 run over the first six minutes of the third. That pulled Rhodes to within a possession, 44-41, with less than four minutes left in the quarter.
Fortunate for Sewanee, a three by Allison Hitchcock slowed the spurt. That pushed the Tigers lead back to eight early in the fourth.
Down but not out, the Lynx did not go away. A 9-2 run over a minute and a half stretch cut the Tiger lead down to one, 66-65.
Down the stretch, Sewanee held on. A jumper by Taylor and a free throw by Caulder with 24 seconds left extended the lead back to four.
Sara Giesen hit a three for Rhodes with 13 seconds left, however Taylor hit 3-of-4 free throws to seal the victory.
Individually, Taylor led Sewanee with 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists. McCormack added a season-high 20-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Kim was the other Tiger in double figures with 11 points.
Ustick led Rhodes with 19 points and nine rebounds.
Sewanee returns to action with a 6:00 p.m., contest at Millsaps, Friday.
For more information on Sewanee Athletics, please visit www.SewaneeTigers.com. You can also check the Tigers out on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.