Feb. 10, 2008
By Brian Trent, Citizen Tribune

The last time the No. 18 Walters State women’s basketball team locked up with Chattanooga State, Megan Rollins was a non-factor due to foul difficulties. The Lady Tigers wished she had suffered the same fate Saturday.

Rollins knocked down 10-of-12 shots from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point distance, for a career-best 26 points as the Lady Senators dropped Chattanooga State, 71-57, at ‘Z’ Buda Gymnasium.

With the win, Walters State pushed its season worksheet to 22-4 overall and 10-2 in the TJCCAA Eastern Division. The Lady Tigers fell to 16-6, 7-5.

“This was a huge win for us,” veteran Walters State coach Dave Kragel said. “It was a tale of two halves — we didn’t play in the first half but came back and got after them in the second half.”

With the score knotted at 9-9 with 13:58 left in the opening half, the Lady Senators went scoreless for six consecutive minutes. During that stretch, the Lady Tigers tallied 10 points to take a 19-9 advantage.

By intermission, Walters State had narrowed its deficit to 30-26.

The Lady Senators pulled even at 42 with 11:46 left in the contest on a basket by Rollins. Over the next 38 seconds, the home team turned up the defensive intensity and Rollins was the beneficiary.

Walters State broke out a press for the first time in weeks and forced back-toback turnovers in the backcourt. Rollins converted each of them into baskets to give the Lady Senators a 46-42 lead.

“I love it when coach decides for us to get into our press,” Rollins said. “We love to get after people on defense.”

Added Kragel, “I think we surprised them by breaking out the press. We’ve not used it since earlier in the season and I thought it was the right time to bring it back.”

The Lady Senators followed with a 12-2 run that extended the cushion to 58-44 with less than six minutes left. Five different players scored during the outburst, led by Dana Garrett’s four points.

Chattanooga State never cut its deficit back to single digits the remainder of the way.

Freshman guard Rhon’Neisha Taylor added 12 points while sophomore center Nakisha Strickland led the team with eight rebounds.

“I was pleased with the play of our bench,” Kragel said. “Brittany Mikels gave us some good minutes and we were able to get Jasmin (Coleman) a few minutes in her first game back from an injury she sustained in the game at Chattanooga State.”

The Lady Tigers received 14 points from Shanice Singleton, 12 from Latrice Sears and 10 from Charnette Davis.

Walters State finished the contest 25-of-62 from the field (5-of-13 on 3-pointers) for 40.3 percent while sinking 16-of-25 free throws.

Chattanooga State was 21-of-50 from the floor (1-of-8 from 3-point range) for 42 percent while making 14-of-23 charity tosses.

The Lady Senators return to action Wednesday night at home against the Raiderettes of Roane State. Scheduled start time for the TJCCAA Eastern Division battle at ‘Z’ Buda Gymnasium is 6 p.m.