SAVANNAH, Ga. – Flagler College shot its highest field percentage, 52.9%, since the 2009-10 season which carried the Saints to a 92-81 win over Armstrong State University in a Peach Belt Conference women's basketball game Wednesday evening at Alumni Arena.
Flagler won its second consecutive game and improved to 7-13 overall and 4-9 in the Peach Belt. The Saints are in a three-way tie for fourth place in the PBC's East Division. Armstrong has now dropped three-out-its-last four games and fell to 10-10 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
Teosha Ray led the Saints with 25 points on 9 of 16 shooting from the field. She added five rebounds and made all five of her free throw attempts.
Treva Mason added 24 points and seven rebounds. She made 12 of her 18 shots from the field.
DeAsha Campbell contributed 18 points and six rebounds while
Tiffany Hodge recorded her first double-double with 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
Flagler shot 50% (20-40) in the first half and kept on its hot streak with a 56.7% (17-30) mark in the second half. The Saints out-rebounded the Pirates 33-29 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second chance points.
Brigitta Barta scored a game-high 32 points and added eight rebounds for the Pirates. She made 12 of 18 from the field and 8 of 11 from the free throw line. Dee Hayward checked in with 13 points and five assists while Alexia Somerset tacked on 12 points and eight rebounds. Shermika Harris contributed 11 points.
Armstrong shot a sizzling 62.3% (33-53) for the game, but had 17 fewer possessions. The Pirates also struggled from the free throw line shooting just 60.9% (14-23).
The Saints used an 11-0 run over a 3:40 span late in the first half to blow the game open.
Alex Alford triggered the run with a layup to give Flagler a 28-25 lead with 7:01 to go in the half. Campbell's fastbreak layup with 3:39 left gave the Saints a commanding 36-25 lead. Armstrong committed four turnovers in that spurt. Flagler went into the half with a 4-31 lead.
The lead ballooned to 17 (48-31) after a Mason pull-up jumper and the Pirates could not rally any closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Flagler plays host to Francis Marion University on Saturday (Feb. 7) at 4 p.m. at Flagler Gymnasium. Fans are encouraged to wear pink as Flagler and the PBC team up to raise awareness of breast cancer.
