Box Score
ROME, Ga.-The Belhaven women's basketball team upset 18th ranked Shorter University 56-45 on the road in Southern States Athletic Conference action Friday night. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, remained unbeaten in conference play and handed the Hawks their first SSAC setback of the season.

Belhaven (12-4, SSAC 5-0) started off the contest on a fast track managing to outscore the Eagles in the first half 27-19. Belhaven posted a field goal percentage of 41%, going 10 of 24 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes. Shorter University (10-3, SSAC 3-1) couldn't match the Blazers in offensive production in the first half as the Blazer defense limited the Hawks to 8 of 32 from the field (25%) leading to the eight point advantage.

Belhaven enjoyed a 10 point lead at 20-10 midway through the half following a triple by Ashley Wakefield. Shorter pulled to within one at 20-19 with just over four minutes left in the half, but the Blazers countered with a 7-0 scoring burst to close the half. 

Belhaven opened the second half by reestablishing a 10 point lead on Sarah Carr's field goal 30 seconds into the action making it a 29-19 contest. The Hawks did not back down and reeled off a 10-2 run to pull within two points (31-29) with 15:33 to play. Eight minutes later, Belhaven bumped the edge back to nine points (41-32) on an Ericka Leflore basket only to see Shorter close the gap to three at 43-40 at the 5:29 juncture.

Two minutes went by without a basket for either team, but Kiara Johnson broke the scoring drought with what was arguably the biggest shot of the game as she drilled a triple with 3:27 left. Johnson followed that up with a two point bucket extending the Blazer lead to 48-40 and from there Shorter could get no closer than five points. The Blazers shot 40% from the floor while Shorter shot 28% from the field in the second half.

Belhaven was led by senior Regena Jackson who mustered a game high 17 points. She also chipped in with seven rebounds. Senior Kiara Johnson picked up 12 points with 10 of them coming in the second half helping the Blazers hang on for the win. Johnson also contributed a team high four assists in the contest. Senior Portia Tucker just missed getting into double figures with nine point and junior Sarah Carr picked up eight points. Sophomore Ericka Leflore was Belhaven's leading rebounder accumulating a game high 11 boards. The Blazers held a slight edge in the rebounding department 40-39 while hitting 40 percent of their field goals (20-50).

Shorter (10-3, 3-1 SSAC) had only one player in double digits and that was Brittney Smith with 17 points. She also led the Hawks on the glass with nine rebounds. Robyn Foster ended the night with eight points while Kelly Ellison had seven points and five assists. Belhaven's defense held Shorter to a 27.9 percent shooting night from the field.

Belhaven will face another tough road test on Saturday afternoon as they head the Cleveland, TN to battle 9th ranked Lee University in an SSAC showdown. Game time is slated for 2:00 PM Central Time.