Covenant Tops Wesleyan Basketball

The Wesleyan College basketball team could not overcome a poor shooting night and 26 turnovers in an 80-38 loss to Covenant College.

The Scots used a 19-5 run at the start of the game and a 26-5 run out of the intermission to put the Pioneers out of the game.  Covenant had four players in double digits, paced by Margaret Cross's 15 points.

Wesleyan's Ciara Walker once again led the Pioneers in scoring with 12 points (7 reb.), while Bre Solmone and Brie May each added 8 points.

The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 1, when they travel to Montgomery, Ala. to take on GSAC foe Huntingdon College.

Walker, Lewis Reach Double Figures in Loss to Piedmont

Ciara Walker (15 points) and Neivia Lewis (10 points) each notched double figure scoring nights in Wesleyan College's 77-41 loss to Piedmont College at Porter Gymnasium.

The Lady Lions (12-5, 6-1 GSAC) dominated the paint and the transition game to cruise to another Great South Athletic Conference victory. Behind potential GSAC Player of the Year Sada Wheeler, Piedmont outscored Wesleyan (4-10, 0-9) 46-14 in the paint while picking up 18 fast break points. Wheeler finished with a double-double after scoring 14 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to pace four Lady Lions in double figures.

Bre' Solmone added 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Pioneers.

Wesleyan returns to action Friday when they go for the season sweep of Covenant College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm on Lookout Mountain.

Wesleyan Basketball Falls to Salem College

The Wesleyan College basketball team was outscored by 13 points in the second half to lose 60-47 to GSAC rival Salem College on Saturday afternoon.  Despite a good defensive effort, the Pioneers shot only 25% from the field and 48% from the free throw line for the game.

Wesleyan was led in scoring by Toni Butler's 11 points (8 rebounds) to go along with nine from Ciara Walker and Erinn Williams.  The Spirits were paced by Shamaz Denerson's 21 points and 19 rebounds.

The Pioneers return to Porter Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 26 to take on Piedmont College.  Tip off is at 6:00pm.

Four Pioneers Score in Double Figures in Victory Over Piedmont Baptist

The Wesleyan College basketball team began its North Carolina road swing with a balanced attack that led to a 66-50 victory over Piedmont Baptist College.

The Pioneers (4-8) were outscored 16-0 to start the game but gathered their composure and held the Conquerors to only 21 first half points following the slow start.  They took a 29-21 lead into the intermission and never looked back.

For the third consecutive game, sophomore Ciara Walker led the Pioneers in the scoring column, dropping 17 on the Conquerors this evening.  Wesleyan also received 15 points from Erinn Williams, 12 points from Toni Butler and 10 points from Bre Solmone.

Wesleyan returns to the court tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm when they take on Salem College in Great South Athletic Conference action.

Walker's Double-Double Paces Wesleyan in Loss to Huntingdon

Ciara Walker's double-double performance was the highlight of the Pioneers home conference loss to Huntingdon College on Wednesday evening.  The Hawks hit nine 3-point baskets in the 72-55 win, and there appeared to be little Wesleyan could do to slow Huntingdon down from beyond the arc.

Scoring 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting (8-of-10 FT), Walker also pulled down 14 boards (10 offensive) in 33 minutes of play.  She was the only Pioneer that scored in double digits as several of her teammates were hampered by foul trouble for most of the game.

Down 13 points at halftime, Wesleyan allowed Huntingdon to begin the second half with a 17-2 run that eliminated any chance of a Pioneer comeback.  Scoring their first basket of the half with 13:58 remaining, the Pioneers settled down and found an offensive rhythm that produced 33 second half points.

Huntingdon was paced by a balanced attack that saw 18 athletes record playing time and 10 players make their way into the scoring column.  Led by LaTerial Williams 14 points and six rebounds, the Hawks improved to 6-8, 3-3 GSAC while the Pioneers fell to 3-8, 0-7 GSAC.

The Pioneers face a two game road swing through North Carolina this weekend, facing Piedmont Baptist College on Friday night and conference foe Salem College on Saturday.  They will return to Porter Gymnasium next Wednesday, Jan. 26 to face Piedmont College at 6:00pm.

Pioneers Drop GSAC Re-Match with LaGrange

Ciara Walker scored 10 points off the bench as Wesleyan College dropped a Great South Athletic Conference contest at LaGrange College 106-36.

Six different Pioneers (3-7, 0-6 GSAC) scored but the Panthers (11-1, 5-1 GSAC) kept their great season rolling behind the effort of Player of the Year candidate Heather Mills who finished with 33 points and six assists.

Wesleyan returns to Porter Gym on Wednesday evening when they host Huntingdon College. Tip is scheduled for 5:00pm and admission is free.

Solmone Posts Double-Double in Loss to Salem

Bre Solmone scored 16 points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds in Wesleyan College's 70-48 loss to Great South Athletic Conference foe Salem College on Saturday night.

The short-handed Spirits (4-7, 3-3 GSAC) stunned the Pioneers on their home floor. Playing without second leading scorer JoJo Hall (10.4 ppg), Salem's starting five carried the load by scoring 66 of the team's 70 points. Shamaz Denerson matched Solmone's effort with 18 points and 13 boards.

Ciara Walker added eight points and 10 rebounds while point guard Erinn Williams finished with eight points and five assists for the host Pioneers (3-6, 0-5 GSAC).

The defensive effort which had carried Wesleyan in the new year's first two games was noticeably absent against Salem as the Spirits shot nearly 44% from the floor and committed only 17 turnovers.

Wesleyan returns on short rest tomorrow when they travel to LaGrange College for another GSAC contest. Tip is scheduled for 2:00pm.

Agnes Scott Pulls Away from Wesleyan in 2nd Half

Wesleyan College's "tireless 5" kept it going for 30 more minutes against Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College, but a frigid shooting spell late in the second half led to a 64-40 loss.

Bre Solmone, Neivia Lewis and Erinn Williams each played every minute of the game for the second straight contest while Brie May and Ciara Walker each logged 38 minutes. All told the quintet played 67:23 consecutive minutes together to start the new year.

Wesleyan (3-5, 0-4 GSAC) trailed by single digits as late as seven minutes remaining, but could not manage enough offense to claw all the way back into the game. May scored 10 of the Pioneers 13 second half points and accounted for all four of the team's field goals in the half. She would finish with a team-high 13 points. Solmone wrapped up an impressive weekend with nine points, 11 boards and five blocks.

Genefine Sapateh posted 17 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Scotties (4-7, 1-3 GSAC).

Wesleyan closes out a three-game homestand on January 15 when they host Salem College in a GSAC contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00pm and admission is free.

Wesleyan's "Tireless 5" Dominates End of the Game to Defeat Covenant

Playing with only five players for the entire game, Wesleyan College scored the final nine points of the contest to notch one of the program's signature wins, 58-49, over Covenant College.

Bre' Solmone scored 17 points and blocked a school-record 12 shots to lead the charge on both ends of the court. Wesleyan played its most complete game of the year, committing just 11 turnovers while shooting over 41 percent from the floor. On the defensive end, they limited the Scots (1-7) to just 29 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Neither team led by more than four points until the final spurt by Wesleyan.

"Tonight is the first game where our offense and defense clicked at the same time," said head coach Jason Henry. "We changed some things and they completely bought into it. The players kept their focus for the whole 40 minutes."

Rust and a non-existent bench did not slow down Wesleyan. The Pioneers, who had not played a game since Dec. 7, dressed only five players due to a variety of reasons.

"Coach told us to have fun tonight and we just played our game with that in mind. Before we knew it, there was only a minute left in the game and we were winning," reflected Solmone.
Wesleyan will look to make it two in a row with a full compliment of players on Sunday afternoon against Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00pm and admission is free.

Follow the Pioneers at Twitter.com/GoWesleyan.