ROME, Ga. — A night after posting its lowest point total and shooting percentage of the season, ninth-ranked Walters State wasn't much better offensively Saturday night. The difference this time though was the Lady Senators were ahead on the scoreboard when the final horn sounded.
Walters State held 18th-ranked Georgia Highlands to a season low in points and shooting percentage on its home floor, taking down the Lady Chargers 41-34 on the final day of the Lady Charger Thanksgiving Classic.
Entering Saturday's game, Georgia Highlands (5-2) had won five straight games and was 4-0 at home, scoring at least 63 points in all four home games. But Saturday, the Lady Chargers were limited to 20.8 percent (11 of 53) shooting and 29 points below their lowest home scoring output and 21 points below their lowest point total of the season — a 69-55 loss to Walters State on Nov. 2 — in falling again to the Lady Senators.
On the other side, Walters State (6-2) rebounded from a tough outing in Friday's contest against second-ranked Northwest Florida State with one of its best defensive showings of the season, and it needed that performance.
The Lady Senators shot just 24.6 percent (15 of 61), misfired on all 14 shots from long distance and made only 11 of 18 free throws in the contest, but a 16-2 edge in bench scoring and 19 forced turnovers helped Walters State overcome the offensive woes to get the win.
Georgia Highlands led for much of the first half, taking an 8-6 lead after one period and increasing the lead to 19-16 by halftime. There third period was low scoring, with the Lady Senators outscoring the Lady Chargers 7-4 in the frame to tie the game at 21 heading into the final 10 minutes, where WSCC held an 18-11 scoring edge to get the win.
Zacharyia Esmon led Walters State with 11 points while adding 7 rebounds and 4 steals, while Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu added a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds in the contest. Diamond Forrest added 7 point and 5 boards in the win.
Destiny Marshall and Ciara Thompson both scored 10 points in the contest for the Lady Chargers, while Sharai Lay and Jessica Eadsforth-Yates both notched 6 points with Lay pulling down a dozen rebounds in the defeat.
The Lady Senators will be back in action next Friday when they jump back into Tennessee Community College Athletic Association action with a road contest against Southwest Tennessee. Tipoff in Memphis is set for 8:30 p.m.