HARTSVILLE, S.C. - - Five UVA Wise players reached double figures, including Caitlyn Ross who scored a season-high 23 points as the Cavaliers claimed their fourth consecutive win, 87-70 over Coker at the Deloach Center Saturday. The win completes a season-series sweep of the Cobras for Jamie Cluesman's team who has not lost since Nov. 24.
UVA Wise (4-1, 4-1 SAC) used a 26-point second quarter to break open a two-point game. During the decisive stretch, the Cavaliers went on a 14-0 run that saw Coker (3-6, 3-5 SAC) go nearly three minutes without scoring.
Ross scored nine of her game-high 23 points in the quarter while Meg Crawford netted eight of her 12 points in the stanza.
The visitors seemingly put the game away with their play to start the third quarter. UVA Wise pushed its lead to as many as 23 points when Nia Vanzant found Crawford inside for a deuce with 4:26 to play in the period only to see the Cobras inch back in the game via the free throw line.
Coker would make 8-of-12 foul shots in the quarter as Melissa DeVore's squad trimmed the lead to 63-52 going to the fourth quarter.
It would be as close as the Cobras would get as the backcourt duo of Ross and Vanzant put the game on ice. Each woman scored nine points in the quarter as the lead swelled to as much as 17 points on two occasions down the stretch.
The big finish allowed Vanzant to eclipse 20 points for the second consecutive game. The sophomore finished 8-of-14 from the floor en route to 21 points. The guard added four rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals to her stat line.
Redshirt-senior Kalee Johnson scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game with 14 points. Johnson had the best rebounding day of her collegiate career as she led all players with 15 boards.
Hanna Oliver stayed hot from the 3-point line in the win. Coming off a school record eight made 3-pointers Wednesday, the senior connected on 4-of-8 shots from distance as part of a 15-point effort.
UVA Wise entered the game as the league leader in assists and that trend continued Saturday. The Cavs assisted on 23-of-32 made field goals in the win. Ross, the conference's leader in assists, posted nine while Oliver handed out five.
Coker was led by Ahlea Myers and Saquita Joyner who scored 18 points each. Joyner added 14 rebounds to record a double-double but, the Cobras made just 4-of-23 3-point field goal attempts and were limited to 31 percent shooting in the loss.
With the win, UVA Wise has started 4-1 for the second consecutive season. A win against Lenoir-Rhyne Wednesday would give the program its first five-game winning streak since November 2016 when the team reeled off six straight victories.
Tip-off from the Prior Center is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday, fans can listen to the action live on FM 92.5 or online at wlsdradio.com Video coverage of the contest can be found on uvawisecavs.com
