HATTIESBURG – No. 22 William Carey improved to 9-4 overall and 5-0 in SSAC action after it defeated the University of Mobile 68-55 Thursday.
The Crusaders were firing on all cylinders in the first half, using a 22-8 run to open a 19-point advantage before ending the half up 36-24.
In the second half, the Rams rallied and cut the Carey lead to 51-48 with 6:13 to play. WCU responded as Leito Holloway (Sr./Charlotte, North Carolina)'s 3-point basket ignited a 17-5 run to put the Rams away for good.
WCU was led by Branden Sheppard (Sr./Shreveport, Louisiana), who finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds, Adrian Williams (Sr./Jackson) added 12 points while Brandon Cranford (Jr./Louisville, Kentucky) finished with 10 points.
William Carey is back in action Saturday as they take on No. 8 Stillman College in SSAC play. Tipoff is set for 4 pm.
The William Carey women's basketball team overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat the University of Mobile 63-60 in SSAC action Thursday night.
Mobile jumped all over the Lady Crusaders, opening the game with a 16-4 run. Carey regrouped and eventually cut the lead to three early in the second quarter but Mobile went on a 10-4 run to go into halftime leading 30-21.
In the third quarter, the Rams jumped out to an early 35-23 lead before WCU started to chip away. The Lady Crusaders turned up the pressure on defense and Rachel Thompson (Jr./Summit) led the way. Thompson recorded six steals in the second half as Carey erased the Ram advantage and moved in front after a layup by Savannah Richardson (Jr./Evadale, Tx.) with 7:12 to play.
WCU pushed the lead to 57-50, but the Rams would not go away. Clinging to a 61-60 lead with eleven seconds to play, Thompson made the defensive play of the game as she blocked Jordyn Yorks' runner to preserve the win for WCU.
WCU was led by Jada Jones (Sr./Moss Point) who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, Thompson finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals, while Michaela Terry (Fr./Evadale, Texas.) finished with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
The William Carey women are back in action Saturday as they take on Stillman College in SSAC play. Tipoff is set for pm.
