ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- The East Carolina women's basketball team had its four-game win streak snapped Tuesday night by South Carolina State, 71-65, in Orangeburg, S.C., at Claflin University.

The Lady Pirates (6-4) held a seven-point advantage with 4:51 left in regulation, but could not hold onto the lead as the Lady Bulldogs (4-5) tied the game at 63 with a little over three minutes to go on a Latasha Cook layup.

ECU could not hold the momentum as S.C. State outscored the Lady Pirates 8-2 in the final 2:38 to claim their fourth win of the season, behind the play of Nicole Rhem and Diana Morency.

From the outset of the game, it seemed that ECU was a little flat, as it allowed three early three-pointers, including two from Latoya Dent, to trail 9-4 in the first 1:12. ECU's Courtney Willis kept the team within striking distance recording 13 first-half points, and finished the night with a game-high 19 points, shooting 8-of-14 from the field. Willis also grabbed seven boards and five steals.

The Lady Bulldogs held a six-point lead with 2:50 left before intermission. Willis hit a lay-up to put ECU within three points. After a S.C. State lay-up by Rachel Brown made it a four-point game, a pair of free throws by junior guard Samantha Pankey pulled the Lady Pirates to within two at the intermission, 38-36.

In the second half, ECU showed some signs of life as it came out on the offensive early to tie the game at 38 on a LaToya Horton lay-up. Jennifer Jackson gave ECU its first lead of the game at the 14:49 mark, 45-43, when she connected on her first three-pointer of the night and was fouled by Morency, resulting in a four-point play.

Over the next seven minutes of play, the two teams would trade baskets, until freshman Keisha Anthony put the Lady Pirates up four, 56-52, with 7:07 left to play. ECU would extend the lead to seven, 61-54, after another Jackson three-pointer. But Rhem, who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, and the Lady Bulldogs would take the lead back from ECU with 2:38 remaining and hold on for the victory.

Jackson finished the night with 16 points, hitting 38 percent from the field (6-of-16), including two three-pointers. She was one rebound shy of recording her second double-double on the season.

ECU will be back in action on Jan. 1, 2004, when it hosts Savannah State at 3 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Pirate fans can take advantage of the New Year's Special, which admits all fans for only $1.

East Carolina v. S.C. State
Dec. 30, 2003
Postgame Notes