AMERICUS- The Georgia Southwestern University women's basketball team cruised past Selma University, 92-48, on Saturday afternoon in the Storm Dome to open its 2014-15 season. The Lady Hurricanes enjoyed a balanced scoring attack as five players scored in double figures.
Selma kept the game close over the opening nine minutes as an Erica Stanley layup with 11:36 remaining in the half pulled the Bulldogs within four points, 18-14. The Lady Hurricanes responded with an 11-3 run capped by a Yvonna Dunkley jumper to stretch the lead to a dozen, 29-17.
Selma cut the margin down to eight, 31-23, with 2:50 left in the opening period and that's as close as the Bulldogs would get the rest of the afternoon. GSW closed out the half on a 13-2 run aided by 3-pointers from Dunkley and Kenyona Armstrong to take a 44-25 lead into the break.
Southwestern poured it on in the second half and, with a pair of free throws from Khabriyah Brown in the closing seconds, held their largest lead of the afternoon at the final buzzer. GSW limited Selma to one assist over the final 20 minutes and 0 of 7 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Lady Hurricanes dominated on the glass as they finished with a 50-29 rebounding advantage. GSW shot 52.4 percent (33 of 63) from the floor while holding Selma to 30.6 percent (19 of 62) and was comfortable at the charity stripe, connecting on 23 of 31 attempts (74.2 percent). Selma finished 8 of 15 (53.3 percent) from the line.
The Bulldogs had three more steals than GSW (10-7) and committed nine fewer turnovers (20-11).
Tiara Thompson finished with a game-high 16 points to lead GSW. Shatoria Hudson added 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Danisha Green scored 14. Newcomers Dunkley and Emili Russ chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively. Dunkley made 6 of 8 shots and added three assists while Russ pulled down six boards.
Jasmine Frazier paced Selma with 13 points. Caitland Henry and Alisha Stanley came off the bench to chip in 10 points apiece. Mercedes Scott pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Lady 'Canes are back home Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. to host Florida Southern.
