HARRIMAN, Tenn. — The 16th-ranked Walters State Lady Senators completed an unbeaten regular season Tennessee Community College Athletic Association slate Saturday afternoon for the seventh time in the last eight seasons by holding off a pesky Roane State squad, 52-39, on the road.
The Lady Senators trailed just once in the game very early on before taking the lead and never relinquishing it in a game that was closely contested throughout.
With the win, Walters State has won 14 straight games to improve to 25-4 overall and finish at 16-0 in TCCAA play. It was the 162nd victory against TCCAA competition in the last 163 games played against its region rivals.
The loss dropped the Lady Raiders to 11-18 overall and 8-8 in league play. The defeat also means the home team can finish as high as third or as low as sixth in the league, as four teams entered the weekend vying for the third position in the region standings.
Walters State doubled up Roane State in the first period, taking a 14-7 lead after 10 minutes before both teams scored 11 points in the second frame, leaving the Lady Senators with a 25-18 lead at halftime.
WSCC held a 13-8 scoring advantage in the third frame, making it a 38-26 lead with 10 minutes left to play, and the Lady Senators outscored the Lady Raiders 14-13 in the final frame to provide the 13-point margin of victory.
Walters State forced 22 turnovers in the contest, scoring 18 points off those miscues, and the Lady Senators had a 38-14 edge in points in the paint. The WSCC reserves doubled up Roane State's bench, 16-8.
The Lady Senators shot 41.5 percent (22 of 53) from the field in the win, misfiring on all 11 attempts from 3-point range and making 8 of 13 free throws. Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and Jamya Rogers both had 11 points in the win, while Zacharyia Esmon added 10 in the contest.
Roane State shot just 31.3 percent (15 of 48) from the floor, making 3 of 12 from long range and 6 f 10 at the stripe. Cinthia Mbakop led the Lady Raiders with 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Walters State will be the No. 1 seed in the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament, which will be contested March 1-5 at Cleveland State Community College.