Box Score
ROCK HILL, SC— Trailing by 10 points at halftime, Winthrop managed just six second half points as it suffered a 53-16 loss to Southern Polytechnic State, Sunday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action.
The Lady Eagles struggled from the field shooting just four percent in the second half and 12 percent in the game. It's the fewest points scored in a single game by Winthrop and the six points in the second half is also a school record low. Winthrop's previous record was set Feb. 15, 2010 when it posted 18 points in a home loss to Liberty.
“I have no explanation,” said Winthrop head coach Bud Childers. “Maybe our young players just can't play at home. We competed hard two straight road games and then don't show up today. Our goal was to hold them to 49 points and we pretty much achieved that. Our girls were not focused today and for some reason we just couldn't remember how to run some of our most simple plays.”
Winthrop returned to the Winthrop Coliseum after a 62-60 road win at North Carolina Central and a five-point loss at Virginia Tech.
The Lady Eagles (2-6) stayed close in the first half despite not being able to get any shots to fall as Southern Poly State only led 20-10. Both teams shot 19 percent from the floor in the first half, but 15 Winthrop turnovers led to 10 points for Southern Poly State, ranked 13th in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top Poll.
The second half started like most of the first half went as the two teams couldn't get any shots to fall, but the Lady Hornets (10-1) got a basket here and there and the 10-point lead turned to 21 with 14:37 to go in the game. Winthrop also contributed to the Lady Hornets lead expanding to 20 points as it missed its first 17 shots of the second half before Ashley Cox drilled a three-pointer with 6:33 left.
Tiffany Charles led Winthrop with four points and Cox added three points.
Marisa Stotler led the Lady Hornets and all scorers with 12 points. Stotler also had nine rebounds, three blocks and six steals. Jasmine Smith added nine points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Winthrop will be back in action before Christmas as it travels to DeLand, FL for the Stetson Hatter Holiday Classic Dec. 20-21. The Lady Eagles will face Maine on Monday, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. and then Youngstown State at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
