Charleston Southern University Athletics
7-10, 3-5
Presbyterian
4-14, 2-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian | 25 | 25 | 50 |
| Charleston So. | 28 | 40 | 68 |
Bratcher reaches career milestone in Buccaneers' 68-50 win over Presbyterian
1/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern jumped out of the gates in the second half as the Buccaneers used a three-point barrage by Erin Bratcher to top visiting Presbyterian on Tuesday night inside the Buc Dome, 68-50.
In a season already filled with accolades, Bratcher connected on six three-pointers in the contest including a perfect 4-for-4 in the second half as the senior guard connected on her 200th career three-pointer in the contest. Bratcher joined former CSU players Kelsey Wasmer, Pam Tolbert and Katie Tull in the 200 club with her final triple of the night at the one minute mark in the second half to cap off a scoring effort that saw the Bucs hit 46.9 percent from the floor and 47.4 percent from the three-point line in the victory.
"I honestly had no idea I even reached that. That's awesome," commented Bratcher following the game when informed about reaching the 200 three-pointer plateau. "It's something that doesn't come overnight or in just one game. A lot of hard work goes into a mark like that, but it is definitely an honor. That is a big credit to my teammates as well. It says a lot about the program too."
Bratcher led all players on the night with 22 points. The current Big South leader from the three-point line on the season in averaging 3.00 per game, went 6-for-8 from the three-point line and 8-for-14 overall from the floor to pace all scorers in the contest. Anicia Dotson and DJ Fowler added 14 points apiece for the Bucs as Charleston Southern picked up their first home Big South win of the season in improving to 8-10, 4-5 in conference play on the season.
"It was great to win [in conference play] at home," head coach Fred Applin had to say following the CSU win. "We had to come back tonight and fight. [Presbyterian] is a good team. I'm happy for the win. I'm happy for our players to be rewarded for the hard work they've put in."
Karlee Taylor led Presbyterian with 17 points, putting on a shooting display of her own from the three-point line with five triples on the night, while Keyonna Allen had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Blue Hose. Aianna Kelly was also in double-digits with 10 points in the loss as PC drops to 4-15, 2-8 in Big South play with the loss.
Fowler opened the scoring for CSU on the game's first possession, driving the left side of the lane for a runner off the glass. Defense was the story of the first half, though, as both the Bucs and Blue Hose found open shots tough to come by in a stanza that featured five ties and six lead changes.
Presbyterian opened up a 12-6 lead at the 10:32 mark thanks to a Kasey Hobbie three-pointer from the corner. CSU countered with an 8-0 run, however, holding PC scoreless for 3:35 to take its first lead of the game at 14-12.
Erin Bratcher began the surge by answering Hobbie's corner triple with one of her own. The senior sharpshooter then sailed through another trey from the other corner to tie the contest as Alyssa Mann penetrated inside before pitching out to Bratcher. Freshman Tatum Jarvis capped the run to put CSU in front with 7:44 left, knocking down a pull-up jumper from the top of the key.
Presbyterian twice retook the lead, but CSU's Rochelle Brophy gave the Bucs the first half lead for good at 22-20 when she beat the shot clock buzzer with a baseline jumper. Jarvis added an offensive put back, and Dotson drove to the basket for an old-fashioned three-point play to push the Bucs' lead to 28-22, before a Karlee Taylor three drew the Blue Hose within three at intermission.
Charleston Southern played one of its more active halves of the season defensively to take a 28-25 halftime lead. The Bucs forced 11 Presbyterian turnovers and held the Blue Hose to 43 percent shooting in the methodically played opening period. CSU opened just 2-of-8 from the floor, but found a rhythm late in the half to shoot 47 percent from the field.
CSU took control out of halftime with an 11-2 run to build its advantage to 39-27. Fowler started the spurt with a three from the left wing, and Bratcher buried one from nearly the same spot to advance the Bucs' lead to seven. Dotson then secured a steal on PC's next trip down the floor, and found Fowler in transition for a layup. Bratcher provided the exclamation point to the critical opening stretch, sinking another three to stake the Bucs to a 12-point cushion with 16:29 remaining.
PC responded with seven of the next nine points to slice its deficit to five on Keyonna Allen's layup. The Bucs quickly eliminated any thoughts of a Blue Hose comeback afterward, ripping off a 15-2 run to take a commanding 56-38 lead at the 8:00 mark. Two free throws were all PC could muster against CSU's stingy defense, as the Bucs held the Blue Hose without a field goal for 4:12 during the stretch.
Mann jumpstarted the decisive juncture with a pretty drive to the basket, faking pass to the perimeter before slicing through the right side of the lane for a layup. Mann added another lay in moments later, as Fowler hit her on a fast break following a steal.
The Bucs' guards continued to play catalyst during the run, as Fowler drove inside and hit Bratcher in rhythm for a corner three to give CSU a 50-38 advantage. With Bratcher hot from the outside, CSU exploited its overplaying the passing lane to take a 14-point lead, as Erin LaVenice found Bratcher on a back door cut. Four free throws then closed out the run, allowing the Bucs to go up by 18.
PC would never get closer than 13 the rest of the way, as Bratcher applied the exclamation point to the thorough victory by connecting on her 200th career three to give CSU a 68-47 lead with 1:00 remaining as the Buccaneers closed out the win.
Charleston Southern held the 31-28 rebound advantage in the game and forced 19 Presbyterian turnovers on 14 steals, paced by Fowler's four thefts.
CSU wraps up a four game homestand Thursday against Gardner-Webb. Tipoff at the Buc Dome is slated for 7 p.m.
