GAFFNEY, S.C. – Junior Reagan McCray (Davie, Fla.) posted a game-high 18 points, including two free throws with less than a second left in regulation, and the Limestone University women's basketball team picked up its first South Atlantic Conference win by holding off Coker University, 63-61, on Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 63, Coker 61
Records: Limestone (1-2, 1-2), Coker (0-3, 0-3)
Location: Timken Center
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• McCray buried four three-pointers to go with five boards, five assists, and a pair of steals
• Freshman Reagan Kargo (Summerfield, N.C.) added 16 points and six boards
• Freshman Aaliyah Foxx-Rome (Dallas, Ga.) pulled down 11 rebounds to go with nine points
• Senior Josie Long (Madison, Fla.) chipped in six points and two rebounds
• Sophomore Alaan West (Harvey, La.) also tallied six points and grabbed four rebounds
• The Saints went 19-of-55 (35%) from the floor and 9-of-33 (27%) from downtown
• Coker finished with a 44-37 advantage on the boards, including 17 offensive rebounds

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Long-time assistant Melissa DeVore made her return to the Timken Center at the head of the Coker program, meaning that the Cobras were incredibly familiar with the Limestone offense. The visitors forced the Saints into early turnovers and contested shots to grab an early 4-3 margin midway through the first.   
 
The Blue and Gold broke through on offense as a triple from the corner by sophomore Mary Davis (Goose Creek, S.C.) and a driving layup by McCray sparked a 12-5 stretch over the final 3:48 of the period. Kargo added a long-range bomb during the run as Limestone pulled ahead 15-9 at the end of one.  
 
Second Quarter
 
Foxx-Rome extended the lead to eight by hitting the backend of two free throws, but the Cobras stayed within striking distance, 16-12, with 6:53 remaining in the half. However, back-to-back long-range strikes from West and McCray would give the Saints their largest lead of the day, 22-12, a few moments later.
 
Coker used a 6-0 run to trim the lead to 22-18 with 3:15 left in the second, but three points from Foxx-Rome and a pair of free ones by Kargo staked the Saints to a 27-18 lead at the break. Limestone limited the Cobras to an 8-of-26 clip from the field, including 1-of-11 from long range, over the first 20 minutes.  
 
Third Quarter
 
The Cobras scored on their first possession of the third before connecting on a conventional three-point play a few ticks later to spark a 7-0 spurt and pull to within 27-25 less than a minute into the third period.
 
Triples from Kargo and West temporarily halted the momentum, but the Cobras countered with an 8-1 run to move in front, 36-34, with 3:32 remaining in the quarter. McCray would connect on consecutive three-pointers before Long took it strong to the rim, putting the Saints back on top, but the Cobras kept coming as they closed out the quarter with five straight points to make it a 43-42 game with three in the books.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Foxx-Rome scored off a nice assist from McCray to start the fourth before Kargo scored five straight – taking it coast-to-coast on consecutive possessions – to ignite a 13-4 stretch over the first four minutes. Kargo and junior Vonshayla Webb (Travelers Rest, S.C.) both tallied old-fashion three-point plays during the run while McCray again dialed long distance to give Limestone a 55-47 advantage with 6:03 left.  
 
Coker refused to go away quietly, however, as the visitors responded with an 11-3 counterattack over a five-minute stretch to tie the game at 58-all with 46 seconds left. Kargo knocked down three-of-four free throws – the last two coming off a Coker turnover – to make it 61-58 with 17 ticks remaining in regulation.
 
Limestone appeared to have the game locked up at that point, but a long three by the Cobras again tied the affair up, this time at 61-even with three seconds left. The Saints drew up a play for McCray, and the result was that she was fouled on the game-winning attempt with 0.4 seconds still showing on the clock.
 
With two free throws awarded on the foul and an additional two following a technical foul on the Coker bench, McCray hit two of the four attempts before running out the remaining time for the 63-61 win.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Saints had a few sizable leads in their home debut, but DeVore and her Cobras continued to fight and claw back into the contest. After Coker tied the game at 61 with a three-pointer that would have been good from NBA range, McCray calmly knocked down two free throws with 0.4 seconds left for the win.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Limestone picks up its first ever South Atlantic Conference win
• The Saints have won seven straight games against Coker
• Foxx-Rome just missed her first career double-double with nine points and 11 boards
• Kargo leads the Saints in scoring over the first three games, averaging 14 points a contest
• Coker held an 18-10 edge in second chance points, including a 10-0 discrepancy in the fourth

 
UP NEXT
 
The Blue and Gold will have a quick turnaround as it hosts Lenoir-Rhyne University in a makeup conference game on Monday, December 7 at 2 p.m.