Box Score
CLINTON, SC— Winthrop rallied from a three-point halftime deficit to capture a 56-47 victory over Presbyterian College, Saturday evening at the Templeton Center.
Winthrop is now 12-12 overall on the year and 5-6 in the league. Presbyterian College falls to 8-17 overall and 4-8 in the Big South.
Defense down the stretch led Winthrop to its fourth road victory of the year as the Lady Eagles only allowed one point over the final three and a half minutes. Winthrop led 47-46 after Sherece Smith hit one of two free throws. Kaitlyn Rubino knocked down two free throws for a three-point advantage with 2:42. After holding on the other, Winthrop came right back with another bucket as Rubino found TaQuoia Hammick cutting to the basket for an easy lay-in.
Hammick came out and established herself offensively in the second half as she scored the first basket to spark a run that put the Lady Eagles ahead 27-26 after Kaitlyn Rubino knocked down a mid-range jumper. She then scored six of eight points during a run for a 42-35 lead with 11:39 remaining, but Amanda Mills drilled a three from the corner on PC's next possession to cut the lead back down to four.
Leading 42-38, Hammick missed a wide-open lay-up and PC went down on the other end and cut the lead to two points on a drive to the basket for an easy lay-up by Dria David.
Dequesha McClanahan answered right back for Winthrop with a three from the corner and that was followed by a Hammick lay-in off a nice pass from McClanahan for a seven point advantage.
Winthrop opened up an early 10-4 lead behind a three-pointer from McClanahan and a couple of jumpers by Hammick and Ashley Cox. However, PC came right back and made it a 12-11 game with 10:30 remaining after a baseline jumper from Shonda Burnside. Winthrop came right back with five unanswered points as McClanahan knocked down two free throws and a jumper from the wing and then Tiffany Charles hit the second of two free throws for a 17-11 lead.
Just like when the Lady Eagles led by six points earlier, PC answered with a three, this time by Kristen Stevens. Winthrop clamped down defensively and held the Blue Hose without another basket for the next five minutes. Unfortunately Winthrop wasn't able to take advantage on the offensive end and that allowed PC to stick around. And Chelsea Parker's jumper cut the lead to one point with less than two and half minutes remaining. Lacey Lyons scored on a nice drive and bank shot with 2:02 left for a 21-17 lead, but PC responded with seven straight to end the half and lead 24-21. Taylor, who ended the five minute drought with a three, provided another during the 7-0 run.
Winthrop shot 36 percent from the field in the first half, but limited some possessions by allowing PC to get 10 offensive rebounds. PC started off 4-for-20 from the field before it hit four of its final six shots of the half to shoot 31 percent.
Hammick led Winthrop with 16 points, tying her career-high for points. She scored 12 of the points in the second half as she finished with a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds. McClanahan scored 14 points and had three assists.
In addition to her offense, Hammick was tough defensively all night as she held Mariah Petrowski, the Blue Hose leading scorer, to 0-for-10 shooting and three points. Hammick pulled down seven of her boards on the defensive end and finished with two blocks.
Winthrop shot 62 percent from the floor in the second half while holding PC to just 30 percent.
PC was led by David's 11 and Taylor added 10.
Winthrop will remain on the road for one more game before it returns home next weekend as it heads to Radford, VA for a 7 p.m. match-up with Radford on Monday at the Dedmon Center.
