Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop defeated St. Augustine's at home on Education Day, coming back from a 13-point second half deficit to win 62-55 on Tuesday morning.
Winthrop (3-2) | St. Augustine's (2-2)
Nov. 21, 2023 | Winthrop Coliseum
Winthrop 62, St. Augustine's 55
How it Happened
First Quarter |
Marissa Gasaway got the scoring started with a layup on Winthrop's first possession. A few seconds later
Leonor Paisana sank two free throws to double the score. The Falcons then hit a pair of free throws of their own to get them on the board but Paisana made a layup and Gasaway hit a free throw to give Winthrop a 7-2 lead. The visitors responded by scoring six straight points to give them their first lead of the game while holding the Eagles scoreless for more than three minutes.
Ronaltha Marc's free throw tied it at eight with 3:55 remaining and the two teams each got a basket on the next two possessions. Marc's score put the Eagles back in the lead with two minutes left but it didn't last long as the Falcons nailed one from deep to go up 13-12 a minute later. A free throw by
Nyah Stallings knotted it up and
Prunelle Mungo gave Winthrop the lead on a layup with 20 seconds left, leaving the Eagles up by a basket going to the second quarter.
Second Quarter | The Falcons hit a jumper to tie it at 15 on their first possession of the frame but Paisana's score broke the tie.
Blessing Okoh's triple extend the margin to five on the ensuing Eagle possession but a 14-2 run by the Falcons gave them a 29-22 lead with nearly a minute left. Okoh's layup at the buzzer left the Eagles down five at the intermission.
Third Quarter | The Falcons started the second half with a 10-2 run to take a 39-26 lead more than two minutes in. Winthrop scored six of the next seven points to make it an eight-point contest at 40-32 at the 4:56 mark but a triple by the visitors took their margin back up to double digits. Winthrop then went on a 10-0 run to cut it to one at 43-42 with less than a minute left, which would remain the score heading to the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter | The two teams traded the first two baskets to begin the fourth quarter and Stallings put Winthrop in the lead for the first time since the end of the first quarter on a fast break layup at the 8:18 mark. Gasaway extended the lead to three nearly a minute later. The Falcons did get a layup a few plays later to cut it to one but eight straight points scored by the Eagles put Winthrop up 56-47 with nearly four minutes left.
Ar'Mani Reid capped off the run with a jumper. After splitting the next two baskets, the visitors hit a three-pointer to make it a six-point game at 58-52 with two minutes remaining but the Eagles were able to hold on with three huge defensive stops and at the free throw line to complete the comeback win.
Statistical Standouts (Team)
- Winthrop moves to 601-893 all-time as a program.
- Winthrop moves to 345-321 all-time at home.
- The two teams were even in bench points at 17.
- There were a combined 12 lead changes and 10 ties.
- Winthrop shot nearly 40% from the field
- Winthrop shot nearly 75% from the free throw line.
- Three Eagles played more than 30 minutes.
- This is Gasaway's first double figure game in points as an Eagle, a career-high.
- This is Okoh's first double figure game in rebounds as an Eagle.
- This is Paisana's second game this season in double figures in points.
- She also set a career-high in rebounds.
Statistical Standouts (Individual)
Leonor Paisana (34 min, 7 rebounds, 14 pts)
Marissa Gasaway (26 min, 6-14 FG, 9 rebounds, 13 pts)
Blessing Okoh (22 min, 10 rebounds, 5 pts)
Up Next
Winthrop travels to California for the University of California Berkeley Tournament. The bracket-style tournament has the Eagles facing Texas A&M on Friday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. EST.
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