Whitman flirts with double-double again but Tigers roar past SAPC

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Freshman Natalie Whitman (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) filled up the box score with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks for host St. Andrews Presbyterian College in a 73-54 loss to Voorhees College on Tuesday evening in Harris Court.

Junior RaShonda Mayfield and sophomore Kierra Patterson scored 18 of their combined 33 points on six made three-pointers as the Lady Tigers (8-3) pulled away for the 19-point victory. Mayfield scored a game-high 17 points while Patterson netted 16 on a game-high four swished treys.

Whitman has been either one point or one rebound shy of a double-double in each of her first three collegiate games. Junior Rebecca Bryant (Cincinnati, Ohio) led the Lady Knights (0-3) with 11 points. Sophomore Beneé Norton (Atlanta, Ga.) scored a season-high nine points on 4-of-6 accuracy.

Voorhees (43.5%) outshot St. Andrews (36.2%), committed 11 fewer turnovers (24-13), and had more rebounds (43-40) and steals (15-7). The Tigers also held statistical advantages on points in the paint (36-22), points off turnovers (31-11), second chance points (22-9), and fast break points (19-8).

After the Tigers scored on their first possession, Whitman made an eight-foot bank shot from the right side to tie the contest for the only time at 2-2. Voorhees went on a 22-6 run over the next 10 minutes to build up a double-digit lead they would never relinquish. The Lady Knights only shot 7-for-27 (25.9%) in the first half and made 15 of their 24 miscues in the first 20 minutes as the Voorhees extended its lead to 24 points (43-19) at halftime.

The visitors cushion grew to as many as 31 (73-42) in the final frame but St. Andrews closed the contest on a 12-0 outburst that was highlighted by eight points from Bryant. SAPC found it’s shooting touch going 45.2% in the second half to actually outscore Voorhees, 35-30, after the intermission.

A trio of Knights scored six points including junior Brittany Roberts (Concord, N.C.) and freshmen Ariel Reaves (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Rachel Hewitt (Kokomo, Ind.). Sophomore Kimayah Fulcher (New Bern, N.C.) chipped in with four points and eight rebounds.

The Lady Tigers had four players reach double figures including freshman Amber Johnson sizzling the net for 14 points on 7-of-7 precision. Classmate Keia Tillman followed with 11 points.

St. Andrews will begin Conference Carolinas play after the Thanksgiving break when the Lady Knights visit Limestone College (Gaffney, S.C.) on Wednesday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m.