Box Score Box Score
CLINTON, SC— Dequesha McClanahan tied her career-high of 32 points and 10 assists as she recorded her second career double-double to lead Winthrop to its first conference victory, 70-62, on the road over Presbyterian College, Saturday evening.
After leading by 17 points at the half, the Blue Hose (6-8, 0-3 BSC) fought their way back to try and make it a close game with a barrage of late threes, but McClanahan made 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch along with two from
Samiya Wright to secure the victory.
Winthrop (7-8, 1-2 BSC) led 63-50 with 3:42 to play in the game and neither team got anything offensively for the next two minutes before Karlee Taylor drained a long three with 1:11 on the clock. McClanahan was fouled and knocked down both free throws for a 65-53 lead as PC came right back with another Karlee triple as she had a quick release under a quick close out. Wright stepped up and made her two free throws after a strong collision at half court, but PC nailed another as Chelsea Parker hit one from deep to cut the lead to eight points with 54 seconds left. After McClanahan made two more free throws, Kristen Stevens made a three to cut the lead to seven points, but that was as close as PC got.
Things started well for the Lady Eagles as they opened the game with a 12-3 run behind five points from McClanahan. The run started with McClanahan hitting one-of-two free throws for a 1-0 lead and then Taylor drilled a three for a 3-1 lead. At that moment, Winthrop reeled off 11 straight points starting with a
Diana Choibekova three.
Kaitlyn Rubino scored a couple of baskets during the run, including a baseline jumper for a 10-3 lead that forced PC to call its first timeout.
Just over midway through the first half, Winthrop missed three chances on the offensive end and Dria David went down on the other end and knocked down a jumper to pull PC within five points. That was the only field goal for the Blue Hose for the next five minutes (Chelsea Parker had two free throws). That allowed Winthrop to build a 15 point lead with seven minutes remaining.
Mariah Pietrowski scored inside to end the drought for PC and ended up scoring on three straight possessions. Winthrop was able to match on the other end, which allowed the Lady Eagles to hold a 15-point advantage.
After the third straight basket by Pietrowski, Winthrop called timeout and McClanahan came right out of it and drained a three-pointer for a 16-point lead. The lead got to as big as 18 with 2:07 after
Taylor Calvert found Rubino for an easy two inside.
Winthrop led 42-25 at the break after shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc (4-for-8). Winthrop's attack was balanced as 20 points in the first half came in the paint. The Lady Eagles held the Blue Hose to 39 percent shooting in the first half.
McClanahan posted 30 points or more for the second straight game and the third time in her last four games. McClanahan's 32 points were the most she's scored in a Big South contest. Rubino finished with 14 points, five rebounds and three steals. Calvert had a career-high 10 points and also pulled down five rebounds.
Taylor led PC with 18 points as she hit six threes and David added 14 while Pietrowski chipped in with 12 points.
Winthrop's second half shooting percentage was down a bit from the first half as it finished the game shooting 46 percent from the field and 78 percent from the foul line (14-for-18). PC finished the game shooting 42 percent.
Winthrop will take a break from game action the next six days and will be back on the court Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. when it hosts UNC Asheville.
