TOWSON, Md. (Nov. 22, 2009) – Junior Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) recorded 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead the Chicago State women's basketball team to a close 45-41 victory over Winthrop here in a Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) consolation game Saturday evening at the Towson Center. CSU improved its season record to 1-3, while the Eagles dropped to 1-3.
The Cougars opened the first half with a 12-4 run over the first seven-plus minutes that ended with a free throw by senior Laureen Pierson (Dayton, OH/Northmont) (Dayton, Ohio) before Winthrop closed its deficit to 12-8 in a minute span on baskets from freshman Chanel White and redshirt senior Shelly Hankins. CSU then went on to score nine of the next 13 points in over five minutes to increase its lead back to eight at 21-13 with 4:58 left in the half after Courtney Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) drained a three-pointer. The Eagles tallied the final nine points down the stretch, including five points from junior Lacey Lyons, to gain a slim 22-21 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, CSU posted a 9-4 run over the first four minutes to recapture the lead at 28-24 at the 16:28 mark when senior Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) (Sun Prairie, Wis.) knocked down a three. Sophomore TaQuoia Hammick scored six points as part of Winthrop's quick 9-8 run in nearly seven minutes to post a 33-32 lead at 7:53, but Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) canned another triple at the 5:43 mark to start a 10-1 run over 2:04 to help the Cougars take back the advantage at 42-34 with 3:34 left in the game.
The Eagles then went on to score seven of the next eight points in nearly three minutes to pull within 43-41 at the 15-second mark that concluded with a pair of free throws by senior Kathi Ryska, but sophomore Jael Peña (Harlem, N.Y.) knocked down a pair of free throws with five seconds left to seal the victory for CSU.
Junior Elana Wroten (Chicago, IL/Morgan Park) (Chicago, Ill.) nearly tallied a double-double as she posted 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds, including five caroms on the offensive end, for the Cougars. Alyssa Waldon (Sun Prairie, WI/Sun Prairie) recorded nine points, Pena recorded game highs of four assists and four steals, and Pierson finished the game with seven rebounds.
Hammick paced Winthrop with a game-high 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field and six rebounds. Senior Shanice Cole contributed eight boards and five points, while Ryska and Lyons each added five points. Senior Jessica Fansler and freshman Mary Hathaway tallied three assists, respectively, for the Eagles.
CSU opens its home slate at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 25 when it faces NAIA foe Saint Francis (Ill.) with the tip-off set for 7 p.m.
~CSU~
