CLEVELAND, TN – Walters State showed poise on Wednesday evening, closing out Cleveland State with stout defense and free throws for a big conference road win, 69-61.

The Lady Senators led for much of the game but saw the Lady Cougars make it a two-point game with three minutes to go. However, Walters State allowed just four points the rest of the way and closed it out. 

With the win, Walters State improves to 6-3 on the season and 5-0 in TCCAA play. The win gives them a cushion at the top of the conference.

"When you get a road win at Cleveland State, it's huge," Walters State coach Jasmin Coleman said. "This team continues to grow up and get stuff done and handle their business. We didn't shoot free throws well in the first half but settled it down at the end of the game. That changed the game for us and allowed us to stretch the lead." 

While Kiera Hill led the team in scoring with 15 points and had 13 rebounds for yet another double-double, it was two players off the bench that stepped up when needed.

Vertonia Bady and Germariona Hollingsworth each had 14 points and kept the team on track.

"Kiera didn't play her best game, but we had other people step up and make shots," Coleman said. "That's what you have to do on the road. I had a couple girls really step up and do that tonight." 

Other scorers in the contest were Rose Morrow with six, Maiya Reed with three, Izarria Alexander with nine, Elizabeth Chambers with two and Ryann Woodley with six.

As a team, the Lady Senators shot 23-of-56 (41.6%) from the field and had 47 rebounds. 

It was a slow start for Walters State as Cleveland State jumped out early and had a 15-10 lead midway through the opening quarter. 

But, Walters State would climb back into it as Hollingsworth made a layup and Bady hit three free throws. The Lady Cougars led 19-16 after one.

In the second, with the Lady Senators desperately needing points, it was Bady who rose to the occasion. 

Down 20-18, Bady made a jumper to tie the score. Following an and-one by Hill that put Walters State in front 23-20, Bady hit three straight 3-pointers and gave Walters State a 32-22 lead.

"It was huge," Coleman said. "Cleveland was doing a pretty good job to start. V did what a sophomore guard is supposed to do and that is step up and make shots. That gave our team so much momentum doing that. I've been telling them for weeks that I have to have someone make the outside shots, and V did that tonight." 

With that momentum, Walters State entered the half with a 36-28 lead. 

The third quarter was a defensive struggle for both teams as Cleveland State outplayed the Lady Senators and actually took the lead with three minutes left. Hollingsworth would respond with a jump shot and then Reed hit a much-needed 3-pointer to give the Lady Senators a four-point cushion. 

In the fourth, Cleveland State made their final push as they had the Walters State lead down to two with three minutes to go. But, Walters State made eight free throws down the stretch and played solid defense to take home the win. 

"We're getting better," Coleman said. "While we're an older team, we're still a young team in terms of Walters State culture. Tonight, they understood what I have been telling them. We're just taking it one day at a time."

Up Next:

Walters State will be back in action on Saturday as they host Volunteer State. Tip is set for 2 p.m.

"We'll get back and just work on some different things tomorrow," Coleman said. "They're going to try and stop Kiera, so I need to continue to have other girls make shots." 

Rob Harvey

Walters State Community College

Sports Information Director

Cell: (423) 779-8880

Email: sportsinfo@ws.edu

Website: www.ws.edu/athletics