MORRISTOWN, Tenn.- It was an offensive showcase on Saturday afternoon at 'Z' Buda Gymnasium for the Walters State women's basketball team against Columbia State.
WSCC broke out to a 56-39 halftime lead before cruising to 98-62 victory. For the Lady Senators (3-2, 2-0 TCCAA), it was their highest point total of the young season.
"We got some really easy baskets today, and that helped us out a lot," Walters State coach David Kragel said. "We have to figure out how to get those baskets more. We have to learn how to move without the basketball better."
Walters State wasted no time early on with Vertonia Bady hitting a three-pointer to start the game as they charged out to a 14-5 lead. Bady had nine points in the first quarter alone.
With the Lady Senators holding an 18-10 lead, Haley Comer went on her own 7-0 run to give WSCC a comfortable lead, 25-10. The Lady Senators finished the quarter on a 7-1 run and had a 32-11 lead after one frame.
The offensive firepower continued for Walters State as they put up 24 points in the second period. However, the defense did struggle, giving up 28 second-quarter points. Columbia State's Capria Holmes had 17 points in the quarter, but Walters State led 56-39 at the half.
WSCC figured out the Columbia State offense and Holmes in the second half, holding them to 23 second-half points. Holmes managed just four points the rest of the way.
"When we figured out that No. 4 (Holmes) was on the court, we did a good job with her," Kragel said. "She had 23 points in the first half, but once the team realized that at the half, we held her to four points. We just still have so much to learn about the game of basketball."
Meanwhile, the Lady Senators exposed the Columbia State defense in transition, leading to multiple layups for WSCC.
"I wanted to work on transition to try and get some easy baskets because we have to figure out a way to get easy points," Kragel said. "We have played teams the past few games who have out-transitioned us, and that can't happen."
Walters State had a big size advantage in the game with Columbia State's tallest player available standing at 5-8. Specifically, Paris Mullins, who stands at 6-2, took advantage as the Lady Senator guards threw the ball up to her near the hoop on multiple occasions for her to nab it for an easy layup. Mullins finished with nine points.
The Lady Senators out-rebounded Columbia State 67-18.
"We were trying to use the size advantage even more than we did," Kragel said. ""We were supposed to. We didn't do that as much as I wanted. We had so many shot opportunities in the paint if we had just swung the ball one time and gotten it into the paint, it was an easy layup."
Walters State's bench became a factor as Columbia State brought just two reserves and only used one of them. The Lady Senators used six bench players, scoring 47 bench points.
Walters State's bench became a factor as Columbia State brought just two reserves and only used one of them. The Lady Senators used six bench players, scoring 47 bench points.
The Lady Senators were led in the game by Bady with 16 points while Blayre Shultz and Akinora Steverson each contributed 11. Quentarra Mitchell led the team with 11 rebounds. Emillee Swafford had nine rebounds in just eight minutes of play.
NEXT UP
Walters State will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on Motlow State at 5:30 p.m. at 'Z' Buda Gymnasium.