South Carolina State Edges Furman, 59-54
Nov. 21, 2009
ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- Sophilla Hipps netted a game high 23 points to lift South Carolina State to a 59-54 victory over visting Furman in women's basketball action Saturday evening.
The loss dropped Furman to 0-4 on the season while S.C. State improved to 2-1.
Hipps converted 7-of-19 shots from the field, including 2-of-5 3-pointers, along with all seven free throw attempts. She also claimed eight rebounds and added four assists and two steals. Paris Alston pulled down a game high 13 rebounds in the winning effort
Furman was paced by Susan Troutman with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks.
The Bulldogs shot 36.8 percent from the field (21x57) while Furman made just 19-of-62 shots (30.6 percent). S.C. State claimed a narrow 45-42 edge in rebounding
South Carolina State led 30-25 at intermission and maintained the advantge until midway through the second half when the Paladins used a 12-3 spurt to take a 40-41 lead on a 3-pointer by Kali Holtfreter with 9:25 go.
A tip-in by Hipps with 4:01 to go tied the game at 48-48, and less than 30 seconds later she delivered a pair of free throws to put S.C. ahead 50-48.
Joi Walker drained a pair of free throws at the 3:06 mark to make it 52-48, and later added a tip-in with 2:36 remaining to stretch the Bulldog lead to 54-48.
A Holtfreter 3-pointer on the ensuing possession cut S.C. State's lead to 54-51, and a foul shot by Lakyn Ledford with 1:27 left got Furman to within two points at 54-52.
S.C. State, however, secured the decision with five free throws, including four by Hipps, over the final 37 seconds.