Anderson, S.C.- The Anderson University basketball team came out of the gates hot and used a strong fourth quarter to defeat another top ranked South Atlantic Conference team, winning over UVA Wise, 79-66, on Saturday afternoon at the Abney Athletic Center. The Trojans move to 11-6 overall and 10-5 in SAC play, while the Cavaliers slip to 10-2 overall and 9-2 conference action.
"I am definitely excited to get another big win today, said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "I am really proud of how we responded tonight, because we knew that UVA Wise wasn't going to give in at any time. They are too good of a team to do that. We had to be prepared for them to punch back and we stayed steady."
"I would like to see us clean up our passes a little bit and take care of the ball, added Barbaree. "We will look to work on that this week, but I love how we are battling to get rebounds at every position and continue to score inside the arc."
KEY STATS
- Anderson shot 49.2 (31-63) percent from the field, while UVA Wise shot 32.4 percent (23-71).
- The Trojans outrebound the Cavaliers, 52-31.
- Anderson shot 82.4 (14-17) from the free throw line, with the Cavaliers shooting 77.3 percent (17-22).
- The Black and Gold bench scored 24 points, while UVA Wise reserves scored a total of 12 points.
KEY TROJANS
- Samantha Michel scored a team-high 18 points (eight-of-10 shooting) and ripped down 14 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the year. Michel also was credited with three blocked shots, three steals and two assists.
- Taylor Hair contributed 16 points, pulled down four rebounds and dished out two assists.
- J'Mya Cutter netted 12 points, grabbed five rebounds, handed out five assists and recorded two steals.
- McKenzie Gadson chipped in 11 points, chased down a career-high 13 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. Gadson also dished out two assists and swatted one shot.
- Britney Bailey scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds, blocked three shots, recorded two assists and one steal, respectively.
- Jalyn Spurlin scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the line.
NOTES
- Heading into today's game, UVA Wise averaged 84.5 points per game. AU held the Cavaliers to 66 points.
- The Trojans are 9-0 when leading at the half.
FIRST QUARTER
- Anderson outscored UVA Wise, 22-13.
- The Trojans began the game with an 8-0 run.
- Prior to the 4:04 mark, the Cavilers only points came from the foul line (4-of-4).
- AU's Cutter made a steal and layup with 3:12 remaining to build a 12-point lead.
- UVA Wise ended the quarter with a 7-4 run.
SECOND QUARTER
- UVA Wise outscored AU, 24-16.
- AU built an 11-point lead after B. Bailey's jumper dropped in from the corner.
- The Cavaliers used a 12-0 run to grab the lead for the first time in the game, before AU's Michel tied the game again on a made foul shot with 1:25 to go in the second. Michel hit a second free throw to go up, 36-35. UVA Wise's Vanzant hit a layup to briefly retake the lead, with AU's Hair draining a jumper to put the Trojans up one heading into halftime, 38-37.
THIRD QUARTER
- Anderson increased its lead to four after outscoring the Cavaliers, 17-14 in the third stanza.
-AU's Michel scored six points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and had a steal in seven minutes of action in the third period.
- Anderson's largest lead of the third quarter was six points after a Gadson layup.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Trojans built a 12-point lead at the 4:46 mark and again at the 1:16 mark, on a Hair three-point basket .
- Anderson made 6-of-8 foul shots down the stretch to keep the Cavaliers from getting any closer than nine points.
- Gadson hit 3-of-4 foul shots to set the final score, 79-66.
UP NEXT
-Anderson will travel SAC opponent Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 2 pm.
